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Original article: La Moneda no era su fundo: Kast admite error tras almuerzo privado con 70 invitados

After the generated controversy, José Antonio Kast admitted that La Moneda was not his property and stated he made a “mistake” by hosting a private lunch with 70 former classmates from the Catholic University at the government palace.

Photos and news reports revealed that the reunion between the president and members of the class that started studying law in 1984, which took place in early April at La Moneda during working hours, involved waitstaff and cooks from the palace who were tasked with serving and attending to the guests.

This situation raised questions regarding the use of public resources and the employment of state personnel for a private event, prompting Senator Daniella Cicardini and Representatives Nelson Venegas and Daniel Manouchehri (all from the Socialist Party) to file a complaint with the Comptroller General of the Republic, requesting an investigation.

The lawmakers did not dispute the president meeting with his university peers, but questioned the organization of a personal celebration in the premises of La Moneda, which included waitstaff, service, food, during work hours, and the use of state resources. They asserted that the regulatory body must determine if administrative integrity was compromised and whether public assets were used for non-institutional purposes.

“Using public resources for private celebrations is serious. What comes next? Birthday parties for children funded by all Chileans? La Moneda is not a personal estate,” stated Representative Manouchehri during the occasion.

Government officials indicated that no public resources were used, asserting that the meal was funded with personal money from the head of state, and that indeed, assistance was requested from palace waitstaff and cooks.

Following the inquiry, the Comptroller’s Office sent an official notice to the presidency requesting an account, within 10 business days, of the funding, the use of premises, and the staff involved in the questioned lunch.

Kast’s Mea Culpa: «It’s Clear That I Made a Mistake»

In light of the controversy that caused his disapproval rating to reach a new high of 53.3%, according to the latest edition of the Pulso Ciudadano survey, Kast confessed his mistake and assured that he will not host private events in government premises again.

“One can make mistakes out of ignorance. It is clear that I made a mistake out of ignorance, and it won’t happen again, do not worry. No one should feel invited to lunch unless it is an official act,” the far-right leader stated this Friday during his participation in the International Seminar of the Council for Transparency.

He also discussed the oversight process initiated by the Comptroller’s Office.

“For that very reason, I appreciate and welcome the audits. If one always operates under the premise that an audit is meant to improve something that was not functioning well,” he indicated, as reported by Diario U. de Chile.

“Every day we must all strive, no one is perfect,” he expressed, attempting to resolve the controversy.

La entrada Kast Acknowledges Mistake After Controversial Lunch with 70 Guests at Palacio de La Moneda se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.