"This government disregards science," "tragic," and "disappointing": The opposition harshly criticizes the government following the resignation of the Undersecretary of Science.

The resignation of the Deputy Secretary of Science, Rafael Araos, stemming from a disagreement with the Minister of the portfolio, Ximena Lincolao, amid differences over a plan for staff reductions within the ministry, has begun to generate reactions in the political world. Regarding this, opposition parliamentarians strongly criticized the government of President José Antonio Kast, accusing them of a supposed "disregard" for science and criticizing the budget and administrative cuts that, according to them, led to the departure of the now former Deputy Secretary. Araos, an infectious disease physician, specialist in Internal Medicine, and a master's graduate in Medical Sciences from Harvard University, became the first high-profile departure within the current government, after only two months in office. The now former Deputy Secretary gained public recognition during the pandemic, when he served as head of the Epidemiology Department of the Ministry of Health and led the development of platforms for epidemiological surveillance, an experience that later motivated his joining the Ministry of Science. Criticisms from the Broad Front and the PS. One of the first to react was Senator Diego Ibáñez of the Broad Front, who described the situation as "disappointing." "It is disappointing that, in less than two months, the Deputy Secretary of Science, Rafael Araos, resigns because he disagrees with the cuts in his Ministry," the parliamentarian stated. Ibáñez also defended the former Deputy Secretary's career and indirectly criticized the President. "The former head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Health during the pandemic, a Harvard master's graduate, probably knows better than President Kast how important it is to defend knowledge and science for Chile," he added. It is disappointing that, in less than two months, the Deputy Secretary of Science, Rafael Araos, resigns because he disagrees with the cuts in his Ministry. The former head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Health during the pandemic, a Harvard master's graduate, probably knows better than President Kast... https://t.co/O5R2ga1TRb— Diego Ibáñez (@diego_ibanezc) May 12, 2026 Similarly, Senator Beatriz Sánchez posted a brief but emphatic message on social media: "Finally, some common sense!" More forceful was Deputy Tatiana Urrutia (Broad Front), who accused that "President Kast's disregard for funding for books and research was not a slip-up; it was a conviction that today is breaking the Ministry of Science." The parliamentarian also stated that Araos's departure and that of part of his team represents an institutional blow to the ministry. "With the collective resignation of Araos and his team, it is clear that for this government, science is an expense, not an investment. To govern against the evidence is to push Chile towards intellectual flat-earthism. Tragic," she stated. The disregard of President Kast for funding for books and research was not a slip-up; it was a conviction that today is breaking the @min_ciencia. With the collective resignation of Araos and his team, it is clear that for this government, science is an expense, not an investment....— Deputy Tatiana Urrutia (@tatiurru) May 12, 2026 From the Socialist Party, Deputy Daniel Manouchehri also strongly criticized the Executive branch and linked the situation to previous statements by President Kast about research and academia. "Rafael Araos is a top-level professional. His departure after 60 days of government, due to the cuts, is significant. But there is something more fundamental. This government disregards science. It does not believe in academia. The President himself said it, caricaturing research," he stated. The parliamentarian also compared the Chilean scenario to conservative sectors in the United States. "It is the same playbook as Trump. The denialist flat-earthism, where their only agenda today is to deregulate to open the door to techno-feudalism," he said. Rafael Araos is a top-level professional. His departure after 60 days of government, due to the cuts, is significant. But there is something more fundamental. This government disregards science. It does not believe in academia. The President himself said it, caricaturing research. It is...— Daniel Manouchehri (@danimanouchehri) May 12, 2026