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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Chile’s Congress to Question Foreign Minister Over Argentina Dispute and U.S. Ties

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

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  • Chile’s Chamber of Deputies voted 57-49, with one abstention, to summon Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna for questioning on Sept. 28.
  • Opposition lawmakers criticized the Foreign Ministry’s handling of an Argentine sovereignty reference concerning the Strait of Magellan and its broader foreign-policy positions.
  • The hearing will also address ties with the United States, remarks about Chile’s Palestinian community, support for Michelle Bachelet’s U.N. bid and Chile’s withdrawal from the Non-Aligned Movement.

Chile’s Congress has approved a formal questioning of Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna, opening a broad examination of the government’s foreign policy after weeks of controversy.

carelessly

· Chilean opposition lawmakersThey used the term to criticize the Foreign Ministry’s conduct under Pérez Mackenna.

The measure passed by 57 votes to 49, with one abstention. It will take place on Sept. 28, after Pérez Mackenna travels to New York with President José Antonio Kast for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. An interpellation is a constitutional oversight mechanism that requires a minister to answer lawmakers’ questions on specific matters under the ministry’s responsibility.

Opposition lawmakers have accused the Foreign Ministry of acting “carelessly” and “ambiguously” under Pérez Mackenna. They also say the government adopted “very weak measures” after a senior Argentine Air Force commander referred to the Strait of Magellan as an area of “sovereignty.” Chile sent Argentina a protest note in late August after remarks by Gustavo Javier Valverde, chief of the Argentine Air Force General Staff.

ambiguously

· Chilean opposition lawmakersThey described the ministry’s handling of recent foreign-policy disputes.

The hearing will also examine Chile’s relationship with Washington. Lawmakers are expected to discuss comments by U.S. Ambassador Brandon Judd, who said at the Madrid Forum in Santiago that applying Donald Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine” would be “easier to implement” under Kast’s administration.

very weak measures

· Chilean opposition lawmakersThey criticized the government’s response to the Argentine remarks about the Strait of Magellan.

Other issues include comments by Chile’s ambassador to Israel, Gabriel Zaliasnik, against the Palestinian community in Chile; the decision to withdraw support for former President Michelle Bachelet’s bid to lead the United Nations; and Chile’s departure from the Non-Aligned Movement. Pérez Mackenna said lawmakers had the legitimate right to file the interpellation and that the government would answer their questions.

Lawmakers have the legitimate right to file an interpellation against a state minister, and we will duly answer the questions asked of us.

· Francisco Pérez MackennaThe foreign minister responded after Congress approved the questioning.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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