Chilean Socialist deputy: Government would be 'on the ground' without parliamentary majority

Nelson Venegas, a deputy from Chile's Socialist Party (PS), intensified his criticism of President Gabriel Boric's government, citing "coordination problems." He stated that without a parliamentary majority, the administration "would be on the ground."

Venegas's remarks followed a recent cabinet reshuffle, triggered by the departure of Natalia Duco from the Ministry of Sport. This change occurred amidst a backdrop of legislative progress for the executive branch, yet persistent difficulties in political and communication coordination.

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If this government didn't have a parliamentary majority, it would be on the ground.

"This isn't just a coordination issue; there are serious structural problems in how ministries are defined," Venegas asserted. He pointed to the high turnover of ministers and undersecretaries in a short period, noting a lack of a government spokesperson.

The socialist parliamentarian also criticized the leadership of the political committee, accusing President Boric of failing to support Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado. "The lack of authority given to the Interior Minister, who is not supported by the President and is repeatedly undermined by Minister Quiroz, is evident. If this government didn't have a parliamentary majority, it would be on the ground," he stated.

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This isn't just a coordination issue; there are serious structural problems in how ministries are defined.

Daniela Serrano, a deputy and the head of the Communist Party (PC) bloc, echoed these concerns. She described the coordination issues as a consistent theme during the government's first months in office. "The government is showing that it came to improvise, further increasing distrust in the National Congress," Serrano commented.

These opposition criticisms emerged after Duco and then-Sports Undersecretary Andrés Otero resigned amid controversy over the use of an official vehicle. Francisco Riveros was appointed as the new Minister of Sport. With these departures, the Boric administration has seen three ministers, six undersecretaries, and 33 regional ministers leave office within its first five months.

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The government is showing that it came to improvise, further increasing distrust in the National Congress.