Chilean minister resigns due to alleged irregularities in the granting of aid

Chile’s social development minister resigned on Friday after weeks of pressure from the opposition and the threat of impeachment over alleged irregularities in the transfer of public subsidies to private foundations.

“After a meeting with the president, I would like to announce that I have made the decision to tender my resignation,” Giorgio Jackson said at a news conference.

Jackson’s departure is a blow to the president, Gabriel Boric, since the two have been close friends since the student protests they led in 2011 and were founders of the Ampla Front, the coalition that has governed the country since March 2022, along with the Communist Party. Party and center-left forces.

I am leaving after realizing that my presence in the Government was used by the opposition as an excuse for not advancing with the agreements that Chile demands,” said Jackson, referring to the blockade of the main reforms (tax and pensions).

The resignation takes place on the eve of an impeachment process promoted by the Republican Party, which was joined by the rest of the opposition, in the framework of the so-called “Case of the Pacts”, in which activists and authorities of the government coalition The Democratic Revolution (RD) party, founded by Jackson himself, is involved.

The “Case of the Agreements” began in June in the northern region of Antofagasta, when alleged irregularities were discovered in million-dollar agreements signed between the regional delegation of the Ministry of Housing and the Democracia Viva foundation, linked to the DR.

At least five officials have already resigned, including former Undersecretaries for Housing and Culture, Tatiana Rojas and Andrea Gutiérrez, respectively.

“I will take all the necessary measures to unmask these lies, insults and slander and reveal them as such,” concluded Jackson, who will be replaced by Paula Poblete, until now Undersecretary for Social Evaluation.