The Chilean Chamber of Deputies, by 78 votes to 67, with three abstentions, approved the start of the political process against Sebastian Piñera. The right-wing president is referenced in the Pandora Papers scandal, an investigation by a press consortium that accuses him of irregularities in the sale of a mining company in the Virgin Islands tax haven. Next week, the indictment will go to a vote in the government-dominated Senate, with little chance of leading to the impeachment of the head of state.
In an interview with Correio, Thomas Hirsch – an MP from the Acción Humanista party and one of the authors of the constitutional charge against Pinera – admitted that the vote was very difficult. “This process could not be done remotely. Today (yesterday) we had to wait until dawn for a colleague who was quarantined with covid-19. This led to a 15-hour speech by Congressman Jaime Naranjo. It was predicted: 78 “Yes” voted all MPs, with the exception of Gabriel Boric, who was covid and could not enter Congress, “he said.” The political decision should be considered by the Senate between Monday and Tuesday next week. We will choose three MPs who will defend the indictment in the Senate. ”The president is prohibited from leaving the country.
A senior Chilean government source told Correio the act was “purely selective and opportunistic.” “There is no legal basis, and, in fact, the final decision was ruled out by the Investigative Commission of the Chamber of Deputies,” he said. He considers the decision of the chamber “discrediting Chilean democracy.” “Not only for spectacle, but also to open the door for other presidents to be held accountable in the future, without much sense. I’m afraid of opening a spiral of revenge. ”
Marcelo Mella, a political scientist at the University of Santiago de Chile, said in a report that the voting results were not surprising. “In the Chamber of Deputies, the balance of power favors the opposition. The process was more dramatic than expected. A few days earlier, some opposition MPs were considered close contacts with government deputy Gabriel Borich. 15 hours to make sure that the All opposition factional assembly voted and approved the start of the political process, ”he said.
Mella explained that the opposition Senate would need Pinera’s coalition votes to approve the charges. “It is unlikely that, unless something unexpected happens, the opposition will declare the president guilty,” he admitted. The scientist recalled that there is less fragmentation in the Senate, in addition to a higher percentage of seats in the official alliance, which would prevent it from gaining two-thirds of the required votes. He believes that the socialists intend to selectively harm the right-wing candidates. “The problem is that this vote could lead to the emergence of a more radical right in the person of Jose Antonio Casta.”
Two questions for …
Thomas Hirsch, MP of the Acción Humanista Party and one of the authors of the constitutional charge against Pinera
What does the approval of the political decision of President Pinera by the Chamber of Deputies symbolize?
The voting is absolutely historical. For the first time in Chilean history, the House accuses the President. Without a doubt, this is an important stage. This is, first of all, a very symbolic result, since it is a clear sign that there is a deep rejection of the president, who prefers personal interests, family and business of friends to the detriment of the interests of the nation.
The scandal is related to the Dominga mining project. The President sold his stake in accordance with a clause in which the third and final payment would depend on whether he declares a marine reserve in the area adjacent to the mine. This is corruption. (RC)
