Chilean MPs move to impeach president after mine sale disclosed in Pandora Papers
CHILE’S president may become the first government head to be impeached as a result of the so-called Pandora Papers scandal.
Opposition lawmakers have filed a constitutional indictment against Sebastián Piñera after the treasure trove of leaked documents revealed the conservative businessman sold a huge copper concession in northern Chile to a close friend during his first term on the condition that environmental regulations affecting the mine would not be tightened.
The Dominga project has long been controversial. It is 20 miles from a marine nature reserve where 80 per cent of the world’s Humboldt penguins spend part of the year, and is home to dolphins, whales, turtles and sea lions.
In 2010, Mr Piñera struck the $138m (£100m) deal with entrepreneur Carlos Alberto Délano but also publicly boasted about blocking the construction of a coal-fired plant near the reserve.
Mr Piñera has been dogged by a series of gaffes, include using his presidential powers to go on a lone walk about in downtown Santiago during a strict Covid-19 lockdown and dining out at what was reputed to be Chile’s most expensive pizzeria during the 2019 antipoverty protests.
Leftist congressman Jaime Naranjo, one of the leaders of the impeachment process, which launched last week, alleges Mr Piñera “openly infringed the Constitution … seriously compromising the honour of the nation” with his apparent promise of favours.
All 83 opposition members of Chile’s lower house and potentially some from the governing party are expected to approve the motion, comfortably surpassing the 78 votes required to initiate a senate trial. If two thirds of the senate approve the charge – and his accusers already appear to have 24 of the 29 votes needed – then Mr Piñera will be immediately dismissed. The move comes just weeks before Chile’s Nov 21 general election and less than six months before Mr Piñera is due to step down.
Mr Piñera divested much of his £2billion fortune when he was elected in 2010, putting his money in a blind trust. He insists he had no role in the Dominga sale.