Chile's Chamber of Deputies approved a bill this Tuesday to erect a monument in memory of former President Sebastián Piñera Echeñique. The initiative, which has been granted urgency by the Executive branch, has moved to its third constitutional stage and must now return to the Senate for review.
The vote in the Chamber resulted in 112 in favor, 22 against, and 9 abstentions, according to reports from La Tercera, BioBioChile, and CNN Chile. The bill now requires a new ruling from the Senate due to amendments introduced during its passage through the Chamber of Deputies.
Changes to Location and Funding
A key point of the upcoming Senate review is the monument's location. According to El Mostrador, the Interior Government Commission introduced a significant change: the monument will no longer be placed in Plaza de la Constitución, but rather in Plaza de la Ciudadanía.
This modification aligns with the preference expressed by the Piñera Echeñique family, CNN Chile reported. The Senate plans to include the discussion of this text on its agenda for Wednesday, April 15, provided the official notice regarding the amendments is received.
Construction costs will not be covered by public funds. El Mostrador specified that the project will be financed through private contributions, public fundraising, and donations, coordinated with the Presidente Sebastián Piñera Echenique Foundation. Any surplus funds raised will be used to publish works documenting his legacy.
A Rallying Point for the Opposition
The vote served as a moment of alignment for center and right-wing political forces. BioBioChile noted that the proposal provided a common ground for the UDI and Renovación Nacional, with additional support from the Republican Party and the National Libertarian Party (PNL).
During the parliamentary debate, some deputies used the opportunity to criticize the left-wing's stance during the 2019 social unrest. Fernando Ugarte, of the Republican Party, criticized the opposition of that era, calling it "miserable," according to La Tercera.
Meanwhile, several right-wing lawmakers sought to highlight the former president's stature as a statesman. Deputy Eduardo Cretton expressed his support by quoting a motto used by the late president: “I do not declare myself a 'Piñerista,' but no one in this chamber could deny that President Piñera was a statesman,” he stated, according to BioBioChile.
Representing the Renovación Nacional party, Deputy Mauro González emphasized the importance of the initiative for his coalition's unity. “This monument is an act of historical justice and a signal of unity for Chile Vamos, because his legacy unites us,” he said, per BioBioChile.
The bill originated as a parliamentary motion spearheaded by Senators José García Ruminot, Luciano Cruz-Coke, Luz Ebensperger, Matías Walker, and José Miguel Insulza, according to La Tercera. The committee responsible for the project's execution will include representatives from the Presidente Sebastián Piñera Echenique Foundation, the Rector of the Catholic University, various mayors, and former ministers.