Senator Criticizes 20% Salary Hike for Health Officials Amid Budget Cuts

Senator Ximena Ordenes has sharply criticized a recent 20% salary increase for regional health authority directors, labeling the move "unprecedented" and "going in the wrong direction." The independent senator, affiliated with the PS-PPD-PL coalition, voiced her strong disapproval in a video shared on social media.

Ordenes's criticism comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the government has implemented budget cuts across various sectors. Her statement highlights a perceived contradiction in policy, questioning the justification for raising the salaries of health officials while other areas are being forced to tighten their belts.

"We are cutting back in..." Ordenes began in her video, expressing her dismay at the decision. She argued that the salary hike for these specific health authorities is out of step with the broader austerity measures being enforced by the government, suggesting a misallocation of resources or a lack of fiscal coherence.