PC Lawmakers Criticize Government’s Indifference and Incompetence in Front System Emergency Response

Lawmakers Nathalie Castillo (District 5), Sofía González (District 6), and Luis Cuello (District 7) harshly criticized the government for its negligent and delayed response to the emergencies caused by the front system. In light of this, they announced the formation of a Special Investigative Committee.

The legislators, representing two of the hardest-hit regions, rejected Minister Ximena Rincón’s support for electric companies, as well as the government’s slow actions in failing to promptly declare disaster zones, and the «media display» carried out by authorities that «does not align with real solutions for the affected citizens.»

«Today we have 5 fatalities, over 5 missing persons, and more than 9,000 people isolated, suffering total losses in their livelihood and belongings. The most serious issue is that we have an indifferent government that was unable to act in time,» criticized Deputy Nathalie Castillo.

«We had informed the government over a week in advance about the upcoming rainfall and the front system; however, all our efforts to request a preemptive disaster declaration were ignored,» the legislator added.

«They Only Came for Photo Ops»

Deputy Castillo also took issue with the fact that, in her view, ministers, undersecretaries, and other officials only visited the affected areas «to hold press conferences, take photos, and claim nothing was wrong while people were suffering and asking for help, with public officials at their breaking point.»

«This necessitates a Special Investigative Committee, and not just for that reason. We have evidence that Senapred in the Coquimbo region has spent zero pesos on projects that should have been available for this emergency. We will not allow this situation to go unpunished,» the parliamentarian emphasized.

Meanwhile, Deputy Sofía González from District 6 stated, «This government seems so obsessed with passing its massive reform and providing guarantees to the wealthy that it has failed to notice what is happening in our country, especially in the regions of Coquimbo, Valparaíso, and Atacama.»

«At this moment, thousands of families have been without electricity for more than 5 days, isolated, with no access to drinking water because the APRs have failed, losing medications, with medically dependent individuals in distress, and even small businesses losing all their working capital because power has still not been restored,» added the PC legislator.

«And that is why we find it unacceptable, a lack of respect, for the Minister of Energy, Ximena Rincón, to come out and support the companies, claiming this situation is exceptional when we knew it was coming weeks in advance. There was room for distribution companies to take all necessary measures and strengthen their workforce,» she questioned.

Regarding potential sanctions and compensations, Deputy Sofía González indicated, «We have called for a review of this situation, for an analysis of each of the violations of contracts by these utility companies to impose sanctions and ensure that families have the necessary conditions to live with dignity.»

Finally, Deputy Luis Cuello from District 7 stated, «Regional governors and mayors have said: the available resources are not enough.»

«Even mayors from the ruling party have claimed that what President Kast announced was misleading. There wasn’t a 2% constitutional fund; it was a 2% that belongs to the regional governments. Therefore, it is appropriate today for the President to heed what the mayors have presented and decree the 2% constitutional budget,» Cuello underscored.

«Schools, municipal health centers, and primary health services have been damaged, and I find it contradictory that at the same time, a reform is being promoted and voted on, almost in secret, that undermines the state, undermines municipalities, and takes away funding. How can a municipality respond to a similar emergency in the future if it has fewer resources?» asked the lawyer and legislator.