Already largely weakened, the Chilean head of state, Sebastian Piñera (right), sees his image even more tarnished, six weeks before the presidential election scheduled for November 21, with the outcome more than uncertain. Splashed by the revelations of the “Pandora Papers”, the president has been the target of an investigation since Friday, October 8. “The Attorney General made this decision considering that these facts could constitute, when the time comes, corruption offenses, with their corollary in terms of bribes and possible tax offenses. “, justified Marta Herrera, head of the anti-corruption unit at the prosecution.
At issue: the sale of the mining company Dominga by the Piñera family, in December 2010, a transaction carried out in part via the British Virgin Islands. The payment in three parts was conditional on the fact that the place where the port and mining project was to be developed was neither declared an “environmental protection zone”, nor transformed into a national reserve. A restriction then directly dependent on the government of Sebastian Piñera, who served a first term (2010-2014), before returning to power in 2018.
The head of state proclaims his “Total innocence”, arguing that he was not aware of these operations. His line of defense: the facts have already been scrutinized by a “Thorough investigation”, “closed by justice” in 2017. “The facts related to the sale and purchase of the mining company are not expressly included in the 2017 dismissal decision”, however indicated Mme Herrera.
Etiolated presidential image
The investigation marks a new episode in the porous line between the elected status of Sebastian Piñera, one of the country’s greatest fortunes, and his affairs. “It also exacerbates the unease of citizens, in the context of a crisis already consumed with the political class. This could affect participation in elections ”, analysis Susana Riquelme, political scientist at the University of Bio-Bio (Concepcion, center of the country). Opposition MPs have also initiated a procedure that could lead to the dismissal of the president. It will then have to be studied by Parliament.
But this is not the only setback of the head of state. On the human rights aspect, Sebastian Piñera was accused of crimes against humanity in April by four associations before the International Criminal Court in The Hague, as part of the “Widespread and systematic attacks against the civilian population” during the violent repression of the historic social revolt of 2019.
You have 55.13% of this article to read. The rest is for subscribers only.