Career and active-duty diplomats at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are reporting a hostile and "unsettling" atmosphere within the Chilean Foreign Ministry, according to a report by elmostrador.cl.
Tensions have reportedly escalated following the government's decision to withdraw sponsorship for former President Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for the UN Secretary-General position. Officials allege that this episode has triggered the use of "blacklists," punitive reassignments, and a general weakening of Chilean diplomacy within multilateral institutions.
The conflict came to light following a summary investigation launched by the Undersecretariat of Foreign Affairs to probe the leak of an official email. The message was sent by an assistant to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock—who serves as President of the UN General Assembly—to the Chilean Mission in New York.
Tensions over Bachelet's Candidacy
The email in question inquired about Bachelet's candidacy, with whom the German minister had a scheduled meeting. The Undersecretariat, led by diplomat Patricio Torres, is investigating whether the Chilean Mission continued promotional efforts after the presidential palace, La Moneda, instructed the ministry to cease support for the candidate on March 24.
Officials at the Ministry's headquarters (Edificio Carrera) maintain that the Mission acted correctly. Sources within the Foreign Ministry deny that any proselytizing activities were conducted on behalf of the former president, asserting that the response sent to the German minister stated that Chile would no longer be pursuing the matter.
However, the report from elmostrador.cl paints a picture of internal fracture. Diplomats point to a growing sense of friction, exacerbated by the dismantling of previous initiatives, the presence of international advisors from Venezuela and Israel, and a record number of political appointees serving as ambassadors.
Some departments within the Ministry, such as the Directorate for Planning and the Directorate for Human Rights, claim that operations are continuing in "total normalcy" and that recent appointments are merely expected movements. Nevertheless, officials within the Secretariat General for Foreign Policy hold a different view: "The Bachelet situation is just one example," they noted.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs justified its withdrawal of support by arguing that a dispersion of candidates and friction with key international actors made a successful bid unfeasible. The ministry stated the decision was reached after concluding that the electoral context did not favor Bachelet's candidacy, which was running alongside candidates from Brazil and Mexico.
