Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz is facing a political crisis following the leak of an internal memo from the Budget Office (Dipres) that proposes cutting various public programs to generate projected savings of $5.4 billion for the 2027 Budget, according to elmostrador.cl.
The technical document has raised alarms in Congress, as it includes the potential elimination of initiatives such as the National School Feeding Program (PAE), educational reintegration plans, scholarships, primary care mental health services, suicide prevention, and the “Calles sin Violencia” (Streets Without Violence) security program.
Lawmakers from the Frente Amplio, PS, and PC parties have filed a formal request to summon Quiroz and Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado to a special session in the Chamber of Deputies. The opposition is seeking formal explanations regarding the guidelines that could impact the country's social safety net.
Meanwhile, the PPD has taken a harder line against the austerity measures, stating that “hunger is not an adjustable variable” and questioning the scale of cuts to such sensitive areas.
Internal Tension Within the Ruling Coalition
Pressure is not coming solely from the opposition, as sectors of Chile Vamos have also expressed discomfort with the political design of the adjustment. RN Deputy Luis Pardo warned that his party will be “watching very closely” the implementation of education cuts.
Former presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei also weighed in, focusing specifically on the risk to the PAE program. “For many children, this is the only meal of the day. You don't play games with that,” Matthei asserted, demanding that the minister order his team to change course.
The situation is further complicated by criticisms from former minister Cristián Monckeberg, who questioned Quiroz's ability to engage with the political system, suggesting the minister has “serious flaws” in his parliamentary management. In response, President José Antonio Kast moved to defend the Secretary of State, highlighting his technical profile and his ability to communicate with investors.
In an attempt to contain the fallout, Minister Quiroz clarified that no final decisions or reduction decrees have been made. “The memo is not a reduction decree,” the Secretary of State stated, specifying that the documents represent technical guidelines from Dipres aimed at seeking spending efficiency.
Finally, the Finance Ministry maintained that public policies are not under discussion—only their method of execution—and that final decisions will be determined during the formal debate of the 2027 Budget in Congress, according to elmostrador.cl.
