This is the second attempt to remove the president of Chile, who took office in March 2018 and who, after the social crisis of 2019, failed to recover from one of the most difficult periods in the 31 years of democracy.
The Senate established for this Tuesday a special double session in Parliament that will last for more than 10 hours to address the terms on which the mining Dominga by a company of his sons in 2010, revealed by the work of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).
“We come with the conviction of having a deep and serious debate, so that once and for all corruption is taken seriously. You cannot keep lowering its profile, it cannot be minimized or naturalized,” one of the accusing deputies asked. Leonardo Soto, from the Socialist Party.
Senator Manuel José Ossandón, from the right-wing party of the ruling National Renovation coalition, assured that it will be a “day of study, of reflection, of listening to the people who accuse and also those who defend, but you have to vote in conscience. My hand is not going to shake to decide either of the two alternatives, “he warned.
If the Senate rejects the accusation it will have no effect on Piñera.
Last week, the Chamber of Deputies held a marathon and historic session in which the socialist deputy Jaime Naranjo read 1,300 pages of arguments for almost 15 hours while waiting to have the necessary votes to process the accusation against Piñera, which was approved after almost 24 hours.
Piñera is accused of violating the principle of probity and the right to live in a pollution-free environment, and for having compromised the honor of the nation.
According to the investigation of the Chilean media CIPER and LaBot, included in the Pandora Papers, the president’s sons sold the Dominga mining company to businessman Carlos Alberto Delano – a close friend of the president – for 152 million dollars.
The operation, which took place during the first Piñera government (2010-2014), was mostly carried out in the Virgin Islands.
The payment had to be made in three installments. A controversial clause made the last payment conditional on “not establishing an area of environmental protection over the area of operations of the mining company, as claimed by environmental groups.”
Once Piñera assumed power, this area, which encompasses a true natural treasure on the shores of the Pacific, was not considered as a protection zone recommended by his predecessor Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010).
The opposition has a majority in the Senate with 24 seats, but the 19 votes of the ruling party, who would vote against removing Piñera, are enough to stop the process.
“Today a precedent can be established, which would honor us Chileans. May we always have honest presidents, who do not benefit from office,” said Socialist Senator Rabindranath Quinteros before starting the session and after acknowledging that they do not have the votes. necessary.
“Hopefully (the Senate) would be unanimous in rejecting this absolutely unfounded, absolutely false accusation,” said the government’s secretary general, Jaime Bellolio.
The session is divided into two parts: first the three deputies appointed to present the accusation before the Senate -which exercises the role of jury- will speak, then the defense will speak.
After the replies, there will be a pause and a new session will be opened in the afternoon for each senator to argue their vote for 15 minutes. It is estimated that the voting will take place around 22:00 local time.
Source From: Ambito
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