Chile Political Party Dynamicsactive

This session, the Constitution, Legislation, Justice, and Regulation Committee of the Upper House met to continue processing the draft agreement that amends the Senate Regulations, which aims to establish controls to detect the consumption of narcotics or psychotropic substances (Bill No. S 2.718-09). At today's meeting, the Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies, Miguel Landeros, was present, who explained how the current internal protocol of the Chamber for controlling drug use among deputies works and how it was defined. Additionally, the Secretary General of the Senate, Luis Rojas, was also present at the session, who briefed the committee on the main aspects to be defined in the current project, making some observations and recommendations for amending the regulations. Firstly, Rojas advised that there should be an initial legal mandate regarding the obligation of senators to undergo this type of testing. "We have the authority to issue regulations on this matter, but it would probably be better to have a constitutional or legal mandate in this regard," he stated. On the other hand, he pointed out that the frequency proposed in the project would be too low considering the legislative period of the parliamentarians. "The text states that during each legislative period, all senators will be tested at least once—remember that the term is eight years—and..."

The RN deputy group leader, Diego Schalper, reiterated this Friday his idea that the government urgently needs a spokesperson. Furthermore, he went a step further, asserting that there are several people in his party who could fill that role. During an activity at the Comptroller's Office, the parliamentarian was asked about his comments to La Tercera and stated that: "There is a lack of someone who every day, or every two days, tells the country what the government's communication focuses are. And therefore, precisely because we want the agenda to be on the government's agenda, it seems to me that there is a gap. I will use a bit of a metaphor related to this discussion that has taken place with the musical competence, where some need a speaker, a speaker who sets the government's line every day." When asked if Renovación Nacional had someone suitable to fill that role, Schalper said: "We have several speakers in the dressing room, all available to go onto the field, but we need the coach to make the decision." "Obviously, we will always aspire for it to be someone from our ranks. We believe that what José García has done has been simply extraordinary, many weeks the most highly rated minister, and therefore, we have people available, but obviously I would be far from suggesting it here, because that would be what I would have to do to prevent it from happening." Additionally, the RN deputy referred to...

The vice president and minister of the General Secretariat of Government (Segegob), Claudio Alvarado, addressed the statements of former spokesperson Camila Vallejo, who questioned the government's management on security and communication issues. Alvarado stated that differences of opinion are part of democracy and argued that "spokespersons are evaluated by their content, transparency, and not by the number of press conferences." Regarding criticisms about security, he affirmed that citizens perceive a more effective government action in crime pursuit. "Only citizens today feel a much more effective action on the ground by the Government," he said. Alvarado avoided further elaborating on the controversy and declared the debate closed from the Government's side. "These are situations that are already closed for the Government, and I will not comment on this matter. I have no reason to take responsibility for Camila Vallejo's statements, whose spokesperson term has already ended," he affirmed. This was in response to Vallejo's criticism of the government on security matters. The former spokesperson described the President's promise to curb crime as a "great scam." "I believe there was indeed a great scam: the security promise. What most motivated votes for Kast was the promise that (...) homicides would drop drastically. And what we saw there was more of an improvisation," the militant...

The mayor of Independencia, Agustín Iglesias, expressed his rejection of the mechanism proposed by President José Antonio Kast's government to compensate municipalities for the loss of income resulting from the elimination of contributions in the government's mega-reform project. "I think it's a bad proposal. In fact, I didn't want to sign the letter signed by several mayors from my sector defending that stance," explained the municipal leader. Iglesias has no party affiliation and ran for the municipality in 2024 with the support of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) in the Chile Vamos coalition. The mayor of Independencia stated that the mechanism proposes a "regressive" distribution of public resources, as it contemplates restoring municipal income through general taxes to mainly benefit municipalities with greater economic capacity. This is similar to the opinion expressed by the mayor of Quinta Normal, Karina Delfino, a member of the Socialist Party (PS). "It is intended to allocate about 70 billion pesos from general taxes to compensate municipalities that will stop receiving contributions, mainly favoring the municipalities with the largest budgets in the country. That does not align with the discourse of fiscal austerity that the government has maintained," Iglesias affirmed. In this regard, the municipal leader asked President Kast to present a veto with modifications that would allow the incorporation of…

From mayors to parliamentarians, including some from the opposition, they attended a ceremony this Monday morning in the Montt-Varas Hall of La Moneda, where the President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast, signed a constitutional reform that will be submitted to Congress next week, regulating the mandatory nature of drug tests for a group of authorities. Days after former Undersecretary of Finance, Juan Pablo Rodríguez, tested positive in a routine exam and was removed from office, La Moneda decided to take action and implement a measure that had already been outlined during the campaign. The initiative—adopting a set of parliamentary motions to regulate this issue, with the aim of establishing a barrier between drug trafficking and politics—goes further and includes grounds for removal from office for high public officials, such as ministers, undersecretaries, senators, deputies, presidential delegates, mayors, and councilors, if an unverified consumption of illicit substances is detected. However, the reform, signed by the President and ministers Claudio Alvarado (UDI) and José García Ruminot (RN), does not currently include the same obligations for the President of the Republic, nor for judges of the Judiciary, prosecutors, or Contraloría authorities. One explanation might be of a legal nature, since the head of state, from the perspective of how the Fundamental Charter is drafted…

The Medical College of Chile (Colmed) strongly questioned today the bill known as “Listen to its heart,” promoted by Deputy Cristóbal Urruticoechea of the National Libertarian Party (PNL). The bill proposes that doctors offer to listen to fetal cardiac activity before an abortion is performed under any of the three legal grounds, making the performance of the procedure conditional upon the acceptance of that instance. Regarding this, Colmed stated that beyond any legal or political debate that may arise, the initiative “poses a fundamental clinical ethical question: is it compatible with patient-centered clinical care for the law to mandate a specific intervention in situations of profound suffering?” “Contemporary medicine recognizes that informed consent is a process of dialogue between the healthcare team and the patient, aimed at facilitating a free, autonomous decision based on pertinent information,” they indicated. In this regard, its purpose “is not to persuade, but to ensure that individuals can decide according to their values and circumstances.” In this context, they warn that “what is truly relevant is ensuring that every woman receives respectful care and support in accordance with her needs.” “Informed consent is not strengthened by the mandatory incorporation of a specific practice, but by the quality of the clinical relationship...”

In a 45-minute speech, the President of the Senate, Paulina Núñez (RN), provided a legislative overview of her administration during the twelfth Annual Report of the National Congress. President José Antonio Kast was also in attendance at the ceremony. Following the speech by the Leader of the Chamber of Deputies, Jorge Alessandri (UDI), the ruling party congresswoman began her address to the Plenary at 12:05 p.m. in the Hall of Honor at the Legislative Power headquarters in Valparaíso. In her intervention, Núñez reiterated the stance she has maintained since assuming leadership of the Upper House four months ago: revitalizing dialogue and consensus in national politics. “We have a beautiful and tremendous responsibility: to move our country forward without further excuses. And to fulfill our mission, Chile needs conviction, dialogue, consensus, and the capacity for execution,” she said. In that regard, she pointed out that the Senate's task "is to lead changes with responsibility so that the country emerges strengthened." She emphasized that “legislating requires listening, studying, correcting, and seeking a better response before deciding, defending one's own convictions without turning an adversary into a political enemy.” The President of the Senate noted in her speech that between July 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026, 749 bills were introduced to the National Congress. Of these, 251 originated in the Upper House. The chamber processed 169 bills and 115 initiat...

Renovación Nacional (RN) presented a proposal to President José Antonio Kast this Tuesday to strengthen political coordination between the Executive branch and the governing parties, during a meeting held at the Cerro Castillo Presidential Palace in the commune of Viya del Mar, as part of a series of meetings promoted by the President to reinforce relations with the groups supporting the government. The meeting lasted nearly three hours and was attended by deputies and senators from the party. Regarding the meeting, RN's first vice president, Diego Schalper, described the encounter as "excellent" and explained that a document was presented containing measures aimed at improving the political and legislative coordination of the ruling coalition. “We had an excellent meeting with the President of the Republic, where we had the opportunity to share impressions on the progress of the government and presented him with a document that, in our opinion, can serve as a contribution toward organizing the work of all the political forces and parties that make up the governing coalition,” he emphasized. The parliamentarian explained that the proposal includes the creation of various permanent coordination bodies led by the Executive branch itself. “It is a document that establishes different coordination instances that we believe the government must initiate, convene, and lead across the various sectors where powers are exercised, both legislat...”

This Tuesday at 8:00 p.m., senators and deputies from Renovación Nacional (RN) will arrive for the second time at the Cerro Castillo Presidential Palace to meet with President José Antonio Kast. The meeting is part of a series of encounters that the President has convened with political parties following several weeks of tension. In this context, RN asserts that they will not hesitate to raise their concerns: the need for coordination within the sector to advance the Executive's agenda—particularly regarding employment—as well as the criticisms they have received from members of the ruling coalition regarding the role they have played within the sector. “Today we have a meeting with the President precisely so that we can discuss our relationship with the government, how we support it, and how we can improve (...). We have requested the creation of spaces for dialogue with him; this is already the second meeting we will have with the President, and I believe we still have much to achieve in terms of coordination between the parties that support the government. This is something we have requested on several occasions,” said the party president, Andrea Balladares, in an interview with Radio Agricultura. “We are going to reaffirm our commitment to working together for Chile's urgent needs. The priority is to make progress in security, generate employment, and improve the quality of life for families. From the Senate, we are available to push forward the projects that the country needs,” maintained, for her part, the head of...

The Republican Party's floor leader, Benjamín Moreno, addressed the relationship between his party, the Libertarian National Party (PNL), and José Antonio Kast's government this Tuesday. The debate regarding the relationship between the ruling parties and those ideologically aligned with the Executive came to light following the failure of the impeachment motion against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau. After the president of the Libertarians, Johannes Kaiser, emphasized in *La Tercera* that the Executive could not allow Chile Vamos to "set the pace," the possibility of the party joining the government was promptly back under debate. Initially, Senator and President of Evópoli Luciano Cruz considered that the PNL "should opt to join the government," as "you cannot have it both ways. You cannot be in opposition here and at the same time want to be part of the government." Despite this, the party has ruled out this option for now. In this context, Deputy Moreno addressed his party's relationship with the PNL in a conversation with *La Tercera*'s newsroom, emphasizing that it is "a matter of quite common sense" to consider the greater closeness between President Kast's party and the group led by Kaiser. "Let's take off the political mask, the political standpoint, the ruling coalition label. Ideologically, we are closest to the Libertarian National Party because several of its representatives come from..."

Libertarian Senator Vanessa Kaiser added a new chapter to the political tension between Chile Vamos and the Libertarian National Party (PNL) this afternoon, claiming that the ruling alliance would seek to "neutralize" the group led by her brother, Johannes, by inviting them to be part of José Antonio Kast's government. It is worth noting that it all began last Sunday, after Johannes Kaiser stated in an interview with *La Tercera* that “Kast cannot do without Chile Vamos, but it is another matter entirely to let them set the pace.” His remarks caused discomfort within the ruling coalition, prompting Senator Luciano Cruz-Coke (Evópoli) to extend an invitation to Kaiser and her party to join the government, stating that "you cannot have your cake and eat it too" and that the PNL must choose a side. This was quickly rejected by the former libertarian presidential candidate, who maintained that "very significant political differences" make such a scenario impossible. This afternoon, Senator Vanessa Kaiser used her social media platforms to harshly challenge Chile Vamos. “What could Chile Vamos gain if the Libertarian National Party were part of the government? Naturally, to neutralize us. To neutralize our role as the anchor to ensure the government does not yield to the pressures that are always closing in on us toward the left,” the parliamentarian stated. She added that the conglomerate comprising RN, UDI, and Evópoli is “the...

The debate over a potential pardon for police officers convicted during the social unrest continues to generate conflicting positions within the ruling coalition. At least this is what lawmakers from Renovación Nacional (RN) acknowledge; this Tuesday, they will unveil a proposal that seeks to replace the granting of such a benefit with a series of "police strengthening" initiatives, which they will present to Minister of Security Martín Arrau during a luncheon. “Regarding the situation of the police personnel who are, in our opinion, currently being unjustly prosecuted, tomorrow we will submit to the Minister of Security a proposal different from the one proposed by a party that is not part of the government,” stated parliamentary leader Diego Schalper in an interview with *Desde la Redacción* of *La Tercera*. The agenda drafted by the party led by Andrea Balladares will be presented by a group of deputies headed by Schalper and Senator Andrés Longton, with the aim of reinforcing legal protection for the police and also initiating a reparations process for officers who were affected during the social unrest. This announcement comes after lawmakers from the National Libertarian Party (PNL) announced a bill a few days ago that establishes a general pardon for officials and civilians convicted for events recorded during the protests at the end of 2019. This, amidst the...

In an interview with La Tercera, a new chapter of tension began between the pro-government factions and the so-called “friendly opposition” represented by the Libertarian National Party. Speaking with this outlet, the party's president, Johannes Kaiser, asserted that “Kast cannot do without Chile Vamos, but it is another matter entirely to let them set the pace.” The former presidential candidate's remarks quickly caused discomfort within Chile Vamos—the coalition that forms part of President José Antonio Kast's government—where members took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Kaiser and his party. The first to speak was Senator and president of Evópoli, Luciano Cruz-Coke. In a conversation with 24 Horas' *Estado Nacional*, the lawmaker stated that “the Libertarian National Party must make a choice,” as—in his view—they cannot remain in the comfort of the opposition while simultaneously trying to influence the leadership of the Executive branch. In his view, however, he added that the PNL “should opt to join the government.” According to the Senator for Santiago, “you cannot have your cake and eat it too. You cannot be in the opposition here and, at the same time, want to be part of the government.” “They have to make a choice,” the president of Evópoli insisted. The president of the Chamber of Deputies—and future leader of the UDI—Jorge Alessandri also joined the invitation. When asked by this outlet...

President José Antonio Kast's approval rating fell to 35% in the latest Criteria poll, representing a four-point drop from the previous measurement, when it stood at 39%. Meanwhile, the President's disapproval rose to 53%, two points higher than in the previous survey, where it was at 51%. The survey also addressed public expectations regarding the Government's management. On this point, the majority believe that the Executive's performance has been worse than expected in key areas. National Reconstruction Project Regarding the Economic and Social Reconstruction and Development bill—also known as the mega-reform or miscellaneous law—38% believe its effects will be positive for the country, two points lower than in the previous measurement. Meanwhile, negative perception stands at 33%, while those who do not have a clear stance increased to 29%. The survey shows that the initiative has yet to consolidate a clear majority of public support. Economic Perception Regarding the country's economic situation, 52% of those surveyed believe it is worse than six months ago, while only 10% believe it is better. In March, negative perception was at 23%. The evaluation also worsens on a personal and professional level. 43% state that their household's economic situation is worse than six months ago, and 57% believe that it is more difficult today to find or improve a job...

Far from engaging in self-criticism, the president of the Libertarian National Party, Johannes Kaiser, continues to defend the constitutional impeachment against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau, which the Senate voted overwhelmingly against this week. “Why engage in self-criticette?” he responds. “We did what was legally and constitutionally appropriate. The issue is that many people believe one should do things for convenience, whereas we believe in doing them because it is the right thing to do. And we are willing to bear the costs of doing things when they are correct.” Kaiser downplays the battle that erupted within the right wing following this episode, which entangled the ruling coalition and ultimately struck La Moneda. Furthermore, he asserts that this event reveals “nothing new” because there are “incompatible diagnoses” among the forces on the right. He maintains that the libertarians have not set the tone during these first four months of government, that they do not intend to stop being a “friendly opposition,” and that Kast—while unable to do without Chile Vamos—must not leave the pace of his government in their hands. In what sense does the maneuvering surrounding the impeachment reveal nothing new about the right? One of the reasons why the Libertarian National Party exists, or why the dynamic that led to the creation of the Republican Party emerged, was the fact that there was a political figure in our country who did not represent the will of their base. That means they were permanen...

The offensive launched by the National Libertarian Party—also backed by the Republican Party—to introduce legislative initiatives aimed at granting pardons or even amnesty to former uniformed personnel convicted for acts of service during the so-called "social outburst" has generated tensions within the ruling coalition. This is because not only have the leaderships of Chile Vamos expressed support for reviewing potential pardons on a case-by-case basis—though there is also some lack of cohesion within these groups, as RN senators are also sponsors of the amnesty bill—but the government itself has insisted that any eventual pardons granted by President José Antonio Kast will follow a case-by-case approach. The lawmakers initiating this pressure on La Moneda resent the fact that, with four months of his term nearly complete, there are still no concrete signs regarding this matter, despite the fact that during his campaign, Kast mentioned a series of unjust situations affecting former uniformed personnel. Furthermore, as President, he has confirmed that he will use the power of pardon without debating judicial sentences, arguing that “there are situations that I believe must be analyzed and reviewed,” while avoiding committing to specific deadlines. It remains unclear how the introduction of various bills by lawmakers might accelerate decisions at La Moneda or further strain relations within the ruling...

Once again, the right wing is disorganized. The progress of the Libertarian Party regarding its agenda to grant amnesties or pardons to former members of the security forces—both from the dictatorship and those involved in the events of the social uprising—has strained the government-aligned forces, even shifting the political conflict as far as La Moneda Palace itself. The latest move was the introduction of a bill authored by Senator Vanessa Kaiser (Libertarian), which bears the signatures of her colleagues Manuel José Ossandón (RN), Carlos Kuschel (RN), Rojo Edwards (Ind.-RN), and Ignacio Urrutia (Republican). The signatures of the RN senators run counter to the assessment made public by Senator Andrea Balladares, also president of that party, regarding a "case-by-case" review of the granting of these benefits. Furthermore, the government has opted to remain on the sidelines of this debate, primarily due to the tensions it creates among the parties that support it. Even though it was President José Antonio Kast himself who, upon arriving at La Moneda, opened the possibility of granting individual pardons in some of the cases from the social uprising, both Republicans and Libertarians resent that no beneficiaries have yet been announced, leading them to increase the pressure. In this context, Senator Kaiser's initiative has already been introduced, reported on in the Senate chamber, and referred to the Constitutional Committee. Without...

The atmosphere is tense on the right, and the government knows it. The presentation of the constitutional impeachment motion—pushed by libertarians and Republicans—has inflamed spirits within the sector and reignited an old struggle between the “cowardly right,” a label given to Chile Vamos by the group founded by President José Antonio Kast, and the “brave right,” as members of that party call themselves. The recriminations—which have also been crossed by other controversies—reached a point of peak tension this Tuesday, following the government's resounding failure in the Senate regarding the indictment against Grau. None of the four chapters were approved. In fact, it is the offensive that has seen the poorest performance in the Senate since the return to democracy. In this heightened scenario, the President—who is currently on a tour in Uruguay and will return to the country this Thursday—has called the leaders of the parties supporting his government to a breakfast this Friday. The meeting will take place at 8:00 a.m. at the Palace, and ministers Claudio Alvarado and José García Ruminot will also be in attendance. Previously, the General Secretariat of the Presidency (Segpres)—headed by García Ruminot—contacted the party leaders this Wednesday to invite them to a lunch on the same day, which, as of the time of this publication's closing, remains scheduled. The outcome of the impeachment motion in the Senate brought new statements that further inflamed spirits within the sector. Senator Manuel José Ossandón (RN)—who was absent...

In its seven years of existence, the Republican Party has been characterized by discipline within its ranks. It is common for the group's parliamentary blocs to vote as a single unit. Yesterday, however, there was an exception. During the vote on the impeachment (constitutional accusation) against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau (Broad Front), the committee of Republican senators split regarding two sections of the indictment. Rodolfo Carter and Cristián Vial—who, while independent, are members of the committee—decided to reject sections two and three of the impeachment, but supported the first and fourth. The other three legislators from the bloc—Artente Squella, Ignacio Urrutia, and Renzo Trisotti—gave the green light to all four. Senator Vial explained that “the caucus discussed the vote in advance. Considering that only one section was necessary for the former minister's disqualification, we coordinated to support the first and third, which had greater constitutional merit.” Furthermore, regarding sections 2 and 4, the former Army general stated that “it was decided by mutual agreement that they would be left to each senator's discretion. There is no division, much less: there is independence in technical analysis, which characterizes our committee. One acts as a juror in the Senate, and the analysis of one's conscience must be profound.” His version is supported by Senator Trisotti, who serves as the head of the Republican committee in the lower house...

President José Antonio Kast concluded his tour of Paraguay this Wednesday and made reference to the economic decisions made there in recent years: "For us, Paraguay is a model in terms of tax reforms. You have shown the world that by lowering taxes you have achieved growth and, most importantly, you have decreased poverty," the leader emphasized.

Following the Senate's rejection of the impeachment proceedings against Nicolás Grau, Paulina Muñoz (PNL), who was among the deputies who presented the indictment before the Upper House, reflected on the outcome of the vote. Speaking to *La Tercera’s* newsroom, the parliamentarian stated that she was left with "a somewhat bitter feeling" following yesterday's result in the Upper House. "It sends a bad signal to the public," she emphasized. In addition to defending their position—that it was not necessary to prove intent to show that the law had been violated—Muñoz was also questioned regarding the votes of certain senators from the Republican committee (Cristián Vial and Rodolfo Carter), who voted against specific chapters of the indictment. "From my point of view, there is a lack of coordination. It is as if Senator Vanessa Kaiser voted against some chapters of the very same impeachment that we brought to the Senate. In other words, there was a breakdown in communication. I don't know what happened; they will have to reflect on it themselves," she noted. Furthermore, the parliamentarian acknowledged the possibility that the result in the Upper House may have been intended as "bargaining chips" for the approval of the major reform. "I believe it has a lot to do with securing the votes for the major reform versus not approving the impeachment. I do not have conclusive evidence, but I get the impression that it is indeed..."

Former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau welcomed the rejection of the constitutional impeachment motion against him and questioned the narrative that the country is in poor economic shape, pointing out that it conveys a negative image of Chile. “In their eagerness to criticize what had been done previously, they have ended up criticizing the country,” he stated. In an interview with T13 Radio, Grau maintained that, “in their eagerness to create better conditions to carry out the desired transformations, a fundamental duty of governments has been neglected, which is to be Chile's best spokesperson and representative from day one.” Along those lines, he asserted that “in Chile, you can trust the data; of course you can trust the data. During our government, during this government, and during previous governments. It is one of the assets we possess.” “In their eagerness to criticize what had been done before, they have even ended up criticizing the country—and here I would say this was the most paradigmatic example of this, when there was talk that the country was bankrupt,” he added. The former minister also recalled that, at the end of the previous administration, some attributed the economic improvement to the market anticipating the change in leadership. “One cannot be in a situation where, when things are going well, it is because the market is anticipating their arrival, and then, when the economy slows down slightly, it is because everything they inherited...”

The former presidential candidate for Chile Vamos, Evelyn Matthei, issued a warning regarding the political landscape that President José Antonio Kast's government could face following the Senate's rejection of the impeachment motion against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau. The indictment against the former head of the Treasury was rejected in all four of its chapters by the Senate Chamber after lawmakers from Renovación Nacional, UDI, and independents voted against it or abstained, despite the text having been previously approved by the Chamber of Deputies. In an interview with Radio Pauta, Matthei maintained that, beyond differences regarding the economic management of the previous administration, the outcome of the vote avoided a scenario that, in her view, could leave the ruling coalition dependent on the People's Party (PDG) to block future impeachment proceedings. “The government could end up on its knees before the PDG” The former mayor of Providencia asserted that her concern is not limited to the case of Nicolás Grau, but rather to the political consequences that an eventual shift in the balance of power in the Senate could entail. “Now, I have been in politics for a long time, and I see it from a different perspective: how you manage to prevent the current ministers from facing the same fate in the near future. Why? Because there are three senators who generally vote with the ruling coalition. Three senators wh...”

Thirty-five days ago, the parliamentary groups of the Libertarian National Party and the Republican Party decided to take action. Separately, both groups announced that they would file a constitutional impeachment (AC) against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau (Broad Front). On Tuesday afternoon, the four articles of the indictment they championed were ultimately rejected. With the results in hand, no one in the sector wants to claim responsibility for the failure. Far from engaging in self-criticism, the Republican Party blames the defeat on the defections within Chile Vamos. Since the announcement of the impeachment, that coalition—particularly National Renewal—made it clear that there would likely be insufficient votes in the Senate for the indictment to succeed. Furthermore, a large portion of the defections within the ruling coalition in the Chamber of Deputies came from RN: Diego Schalper, Ximena Ossandón, Luis Pardo, and Andrés Celis decided not to approve the indictment, going against the decision of the majority of their sector. The break from the party line did not end there: some senators also opted to reject it. Among them were the party's president, Andrea Balladares, and Paulina Núñez, who leads the upper house. The Republican Party believes that the reluctance shown by these lawmakers from the very beginning ultimately weakened the impeachment. Consequently, they are pointing the finger at them as those responsible. This is despite the fact that, in private, some leaders of the party admitted...

As expected, the Senate Chamber determined this Tuesday to reject the impeachment against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau. The indictment consisted of four chapters, which alleged violations of the principle of probity established by the Constitution, including failure to comply with fiscal rules and the underestimation of public debt, among others. The vote breakdown was as follows: for Chapter I, there were 25 votes against, 16 in favor, and 4 abstentions; for Chapter II, 32 votes against, 9 in favor, and 2 abstentions; for Chapter III, 26 votes against, 16 in favor, and 3 abstentions; and for Chapter IV, 33 votes against, 10 votes in favor, and 2 abstentions. The former Secretary of State (August 2025–March 2026) thus avoided a five-year disqualification from holding public office. Consequently, due to senator absences, leaves of absence, disqualifications, or simply a lack of conviction, the impeachment ultimately failed, despite having received support in the Chamber of Deputies to proceed. Hours earlier, the divisions within the ruling coalition regarding the action—driven primarily by deputies from the National Libertarian Party and the Republican Party—had become known. For instance, Senator Manuel José Ossandón (RN) had anticipated his absence from the session—as he was accompanying President José Antonio Kast on a Mercosur tour to Paraguay—though he noted that had he been present, "he would have voted against, because..."

MR. DIRECTOR: On this Firefighters' Day, the Santiago Fire Department arrives strengthened by the commitment of those who, on a voluntary basis, dedicate their time and effort to serving the community, both in Chile and abroad, as demonstrated by the support we are currently providing for the earthquake in Venezuela. During 2025, our 22 companies responded to more than 10,000 emergencies, and we reached a strength of 2,661 male and female volunteers, the highest in our 162 years of existence. Likewise, the sustained growth of female participation and the work carried out by our 20 youth brigades allow us to look toward the future with optimism and confidence. This date also finds us attentive to important legislative debates. We continue to follow with interest the processing of the Framework Law for Firefighters, currently in the Senate, trusting that the observations formulated by our Institution will contribute to its refinement and strengthening, in order to safeguard the proper autonomy of fire departments. In the same vein, we consider it relevant to participate in the discussion of the project that seeks to establish a single emergency response number; the experience accumulated by Firefighters throughout Chile must be duly considered in its development, given the significance this matter holds for public safety and effectiveness in emergency management. On this Firefighters' Day, we renew our commitment to the ci...

Senator Manuel José Ossandón of the National Renewal (RN) party questioned the constitutional impeachment (AC) against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau and announced that he will be absent from the Upper House during the vote. The lawmaker maintained that he respects the decision to file an impeachment proceeding despite “not being” in agreement. “But they must also respect those of us who disagree with the same prudence. Without accusing you of being a ‘cowardly little right-winger’,” Ossandón remarked. “This only serves to damage President Kast, who needs unity. If the left misused constitutional impeachments—because the truth is that they did misuse them; they manipulated them—we must not do the same,” the senator added. Ossandón will accompany President José Antonio Kast on a Mercosur tour in Paraguay. Therefore, he will be absent from the vote against the former minister's impeachment. “Had I been in the Chamber, I would have voted against it because after reviewing the indictment, I concluded that there is no constitutional violation,” he indicated via X. For his part, Senator Vlado Mirosevic (PL) was also part of the delegation. However, he announced that he would remain in Chile to be able to vote against the impeachment. “It is my responsibility to be in the Senate.” One day before the Senate vote, the distance between the ruling coalition parties continues to grow, while the opposition insists that the indictment lacks merit.

Are there two rights? It seemed as though there weren't; that in these first 100 days of government, an assimilation—and a rather peaceful one—had occurred between the Chile Vamos right and that of the government led by its former rival party, the Republicans. That the bitter Kast-Matthei contest during the presidential race had been left behind. That all the "stomach aches" felt by the more centrist sectors of CHV regarding the idea of participating in a Kast government had been forgotten. And that there was also little memory of how they treated their candidate, Evelyn Matthei, including the toxic campaign of bots and trolls. But this week, the inter-right-wing struggles were revived. The rejection by Deputy Diego Schalper, RN's floor leader, of the constitutional impeachment against former minister Grau (driven by libertarians and Republicans) was the trigger for a political and cultural battle that was semi-dormant, but never dead. The result of the vote in the Chamber reflects that, when it decides to exert influence, the "cowardly" right influences quite a bit. Only 77 deputies approved the indictment, far fewer than estimated. Schalper's argument—and that of those who joined him—made sense. Continuing to use this tool damages not only the adversary but the entire political and institutional system. Many male and female deputies, highly critical of Grau and the previous government, dared to be labeled "cowardly little right-wingers" and rejected an impeachment without a legal basis. Something that, most likely...

National Renewal deputy Diego Schalper addressed the week's legislative developments today, considering the Senate's general approval of the major reform, as well as the Chamber's approval of the admissibility of the constitutional impeachment against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau, for which he voted against, alongside three other deputies from his party. When asked about this during a conversation with Radio Infinita, the lawmaker stated that it has been "a challenging week for those of us who believe in a country where disrespect and cancel culture are not the norm." "When one defends freedom, one must defend it on all fronts, and one of the most important fronts is freedom of opinion—the freedom to think differently," he affirmed. "I believe the final outcome of this week must be to create a turning point, to challenge this dynamic of permanent conflictiveness that some apparently wish to maintain, and to take a stand so that it remains possible to think differently," he added. In this regard, Schalper lamented the atmosphere that has developed in Congress, where he claimed some parliamentarians told him they shared his opinion but voted following their party out of fear. "Colleagues from different parties were telling me, 'Look, I agree with you, but I am terrified to vote in this direction because, truth be told, the level of aggression I will endure is going to..."

The situation had reached its breaking point. This is the consensus within Renovación Nacional (RN) regarding its relationship with the Republican Party. Over the last 24 hours, various leaders have come forward en masse to demand respect from the group led by Arturo Squella. This occurred just hours before the vote on the impeachment proceedings against Nicolás Grau, from which several RN deputies—including parliamentary leader Diego Schalper—have distanced themselves. It is this attitude that has sparked the ire of the Republicans, who have harshly criticized the party led by Andrea Balladares for being unable to align itself with the rest of the right wing. Balladares herself opened fire. Yesterday, during the political committee meeting, she demanded that the positions of the leaders of her party be respected. The backlash from RN did not end there. This morning, the party's general secretary, Katherine Martorrell, warned that her party “will not remain silent in the face of the insults and challenges we have seen in recent days. Our parliamentarians do not act under pressure or ultimatums from any political sector.” “We hope that the Republican Party contributes to strengthening coexistence within the governing coalition and leaves behind the practices of harassment that only create unnecessary divisions,” she added. RN's political commission also joined the fray. The body issued...

The Undersecretary of the Interior, Máximo Pavez, stepped in this Monday to downplay the tensions recorded between figures from Chile Vamos and the Republican Party following the exchange between Republican Deputy Agustín Romero and former presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei (UDI). The tensions began about a week ago when Matthei, along with other women, signed a letter of support for Macarena Lobos (former minister under Gabriel Boric) in endorsement of her candidacy to become Senate Secretary. Romero shared a news item regarding the event and commented “fifth place,” in reference to Matthei's result in the last presidential elections, which prompted the former Mayor of Providencia to challenge him regarding the controversial overtime payments made by the Municipality of Santiago during his tenure as legal director. “Honorable deputy, let’s talk about numbers and rankings when you return the money for those unjustified overtime hours,” responded the former Minister of Labor, in a round that strained the ruling coalition. In this context, Pavez called to “prioritize unity” within the government coalition and to maintain focus on initiatives aimed at improving the quality of life for Chileans. Furthermore, the official avoided delving into the controversy and opted to de-escalate the situation, reaffirming that the Executive branch will not intervene in the internal discussions of political parties. “From the p…

As soon as Deputy Minister Claudio Alvarado finished his introduction, the president of National Renewal (RN), Andrea Balladares, took the floor. “We demand respect for different positions. There are some who are not respecting that,” the senator warned. She made these remarks during the expanded political committee meeting held this Monday at La Moneda, which was attended by ministers, representatives from the leadership of the governing coalition parties, and parliamentary group leaders. The senator was referring to comments made by Deputy Agustín Romero (Republican Party), who, in an early conversation with Radio Infinita, criticized Diego Schalper (RN) for suggesting that he and other parliamentarians would reject the constitutional impeachment (AC) against Nicolás Grau (Broad Front) scheduled for a vote this Tuesday. “He will have to explain it to his constituents,” Romero said during the interview. He is one of the most critical Republicans regarding Chile Vamos, and this is not the first time he has lashed out at them over their stances. It was precisely in this context that the government sought to establish a firewall against disputes between the parties that support President José Antonio Kast. According to those present at the meeting, Alvarado proposed the need to create an additional party coordination body to process these types of differences, preventing the expanded political committee meetings on Mondays at La Moneda from becoming a space for resolving controversies...

Following a new expanded political committee meeting at La Moneda, the president and senator of the Republican Party distanced himself from the position presented today by Senate Leader Paulina Núñez regarding extending the discussion deadlines for the major reform. The administration's flagship project is scheduled for a general vote this Wednesday in the Senate Chamber; however, since left-wing parliamentary groups have submitted proposals to the government regarding the initiative today, Núñez brought the matter to the table. “If building an agreement and achieving a majority means taking a few more days, I am available to allow for that space,” the Renovación Nacional legislator noted regarding the matter. “If proposals are being submitted between today and tomorrow, it is only logical that they be reviewed and responded to, which requires time. Prudence and urgency can go hand in hand. It will be up to the Senate to ensure a technical, responsible, and transparent debate. Negotiating well is not a weakness; it is a democratic responsibility,” she explained regarding this possibility. For his part, Squella maintained: “I do not see that it is necessary. I get the impression that there is a clear timeline.” Along those lines, he added: “We are only just discussing the idea of legislating. Indeed, the more in-depth and detailed work will be done in what follows, during the specific discussion.” “In the immediate term, we all know what this bill aims for, what its orienta...”

The President of the Senate, Paulina Núñez, expressed openness this Monday to extending the discussion period for the National Reconstruction bill, which is scheduled for a vote by the upper house plenary this Wednesday. “If building an agreement and achieving a majority means taking a few more days, I am available to allow that space,” noted the Renovación Nacional legislator. “If proposals are being submitted between today and tomorrow, it is only logical that they be reviewed and addressed, which requires time. Prudence and urgency can go hand in hand. It will be the Senate's responsibility to ensure a technical, responsible, and transparent debate. Negotiating well is not a weakness; it is a democratic responsibility,” she explained regarding this possibility. During this same day, for example, the Socialist Party senate caucus will hold a meeting at La Moneda with the biminister of the Interior and the Presidency (Segegob), Claudio Alvarado, to present their proposals for the bill. Regarding this meeting, on Monday morning, the President of the PS, Paulina Vodanovic, explained: “That is a decision adopted by the socialist senate caucus last week to bring a proposal to the government, understanding that we are against this project.” On the other hand, the Mayor of Maipú, Tomás Vodanovic, also shared with Núñez a series of proposals from mayors regarding the government's mega-reform and the payment of property taxes. According to...

The dual Minister of the Interior and the Presidency (Segegob), Claudio Alvarado, addressed from La Moneda this morning the conversations held with the opposition regarding the "megareform," which could face a general vote in the Senate this Wednesday. Specifically, the Chief of Staff was asked how open they are to dialogue and negotiations with the opposing side to move forward with the flagship project of the José Antonio Kast administration. Regarding this point, Alvarado noted: “The government has always expressed, through various channels and at different times, that there is the utmost willingness to listen and receive proposals.” “In that sense, in recent weeks we have had conversations with the PPD senate caucus; in a little while, I have a meeting with senators from the Socialist Party caucus, who will bring us a proposal to be evaluated, analyzed, and eventually, some of those matters could be incorporated into the discussion of this project,” he continued. “Therefore, there is full willingness and the best possible spirit, and we hope that the attitude we have demonstrated as a government is also met with receptivity,” he emphasized. Regarding how much room there is to integrate some of those proposals, he said: “The space available depends on the proposal, its meaning, and whether it aligns with the core ideas and the fundamental structure of this project. Therefore, if it falls within that framework, undoubtedly e...”

Representative of Renovación Nacional, Diego Schalper, reaffirmed his rejection this Monday of the constitutional impeachment against former Finance Minister Nicolás Grau, while asserting that “Chile cannot continue with this season of constitutional impeachments because that is characteristic of banana republics.” Following the political committee meeting, the lawmaker addressed the criticisms arising from the Republican Party, who questioned his decision to vote against the impeachment. In response, Schalper argued that in a unity government, different perspectives must coexist. “The important thing is to understand that when one builds a unity government, aiming to represent 58% of Chileans, one must value precisely that diversity within the unity achieved by that percentage,” he stated. Furthermore, he pointed out that “that is what we have expressed, and the truth is that we have found quite a bit of common sense in that. I don't think I am saying anything particularly spectacular.” “I believe the good thing is that it has become clear that to build a unity government, we need to respect the different viewpoints that make up that 58%,” he reiterated. Schalper also emphasized Renovación Nacional's support for José Antonio Kast's government, noting that “we are fully committed to the Government's agenda. We are very clear that if President Kast's government succeeds, it means Chile will succeed.” Finally, regarding the impeachment const...