El Ciudadano
Original article: “No puedes tener una coalición y patearlos una y otra vez”: Matthei expone la falsa unidad del Gobierno de Kast
Former Providencia mayor and presidential candidate for Chile Vamos, Evelyn Matthei, launched a critical offensive against the governing coalition, arguing that the right lacks true unity.
«You can’t have a coalition and keep kicking them repeatedly,» she stated in an interview with Radio Pauta, suggesting that José Antonio Kast’s government is built on a «false unity», a claim underscored by the constitutional accusation against former Minister of Economy, Development, and Tourism, Nicolás Grau.
The former presidential candidate emphasized that there is no coordination, no affection between Chile Vamos and the Republicans and that there are no formal channels to address their political differences.
«They arrive and present a constitutional accusation without notifying anyone»
The UDI leader openly criticized the strategy of the Republican Party—founded by Kast in 2019—for pushing the constitutional accusation against Grau without consulting coalition partners.
«They show up and present a constitutional accusation without notifying anyone, without consulting anyone. Then, if someone dares to vote against it, they get ridiculed and accused,» Matthei remarked. For the former mayor, this episode demonstrates that there is no unified bloc, but rather an asymmetric relationship where Republicans operate unilaterally while expecting parliamentary support from Chile Vamos.
«You can’t have the best of both worlds, having a coalition that supports you in Congress while repeatedly kicking them,” she concluded with a phrase that encapsulates the sector’s discontent.
From Political Clash to Personal Attack
The conflict escalated quickly after Republican deputy Agustín Romero made a sarcastic comment on social media concerning Matthei’s electoral outcome, stating «Fifth place…», to which the former candidate responded sharply: «Let’s talk about numbers and places when you return the money for unjustified overtime,» alluding to the 11.5 million pesos Romero allegedly received irregularly during his tenure at the Santiago Municipality.
Matthei updated the figure to nearly 15 million and questioned: «Has he returned the money he took from a municipality?» He should return it, and he has not done so. That’s the small fight.” Romero, for his part, downplayed Matthei by stating she is «not a relevant figure» for Republicans, prompting an immediate reaction from the UDI bench demanding public apologies.
Matthei Warns Tensions Will Rise Ahead of Electoral Scenarios: “In the End, It Will Be Worse”
Beyond the personal clash, Matthei offered a political perspective that transcends the confrontation with Romero and targets the core issue within the ruling right. The former mayor contended that the current tensions are merely the prelude to a more complex scenario, especially as the upcoming presidential and parliamentary campaigns begin.
«This tension will be permanent and will become more challenging as time advances and there is less left for this government, and as the claws of those who want to become presidential candidates start to grow,» she warned. Matthei was categorical in asserting that coexistence will not improve over time, but rather the opposite: «It will never be easy. In the end, it will be worse,» she stated, as reported by El Mostrador.
Her analysis also highlighted strategic differences within the right. While UDI leaders like Pablo Longueira explore ways to build a stable alliance with Republicans, Matthei doubts the willingness of the party founded by Kast to pursue that path.
«Longueira wants to form a coalition. I’m sure Republicans do not want a coalition,» she asserted frankly, hinting that the government’s strategy aims more at using Chile Vamos as a temporary ally rather than building a common governance project. This perception reinforces the idea that the right faces not only tactical tensions but also fundamental divergences on how to articulate its political project.
Matthei’s statements come at a particularly sensitive time for the governing coalition, which recently boasted unity behind President Kast’s leadership. The constitutional accusation against Grau not only divided the right in Congress but also publicly exposed the frictions among parliamentarians who had previously shared the same political stance. In this context, the former presidential candidate argued that the ruling coalition is more a fiction than an operational reality.
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