Socialist Party Deputy Daniel Manouchehri has become the primary thorn in the side of José Antonio Kast’s government. Through a series of formal filings with the Comptroller General, the lawmaker has successfully challenged both the administrative management and the conduct of officials at the presidential palace.
The legislator’s latest offensive centers on the failure to comply with a law requiring cabinet ministers and undersecretaries to undergo drug testing. Manouchehri alleges that the new administration’s officials failed to undergo hair follicle tests upon taking office, as mandated by current regulations.
The Trap of Miscellaneous Legislation
The roots of this conflict trace back to an amendment introduced by Manouchehri during the debate over the public sector wage adjustment bill, shortly before Gabriel Boric’s term ended. The measure, which received cross-party support, established that drug tests for high-ranking officials must be mandatory, periodic, and publicly disclosed.
The executive branch argued that a lack of regulations and funding issues prevented timely compliance with the law. However, facing pressure from the Comptroller’s inquiry, President Kast voluntarily underwent a hair test on April 8 in an attempt to put the controversy to rest.
Manouchehri’s strategy extends beyond the legislative arena. The deputy also filed a complaint against the First Lady, Pía Adriasola, regarding alleged health code violations involving food handling during a luncheon at La Moneda. Following this action, the Comptroller’s Oversight Division issued a formal request to the Presidency for clarification.
President Kast has criticized the political use of these oversight mechanisms. "I understand the role of the opposition, but I ask them to understand their duty to Chile," the President stated in a recent interview. "If someone chooses to exercise oversight, I understand that there are certain rules for serving food in a public cafeteria, but there is a vast distance between that and escalating it into a political issue."
The Socialist lawmaker’s offensive also includes an investigation into the hiring of the catering firm 'Sofía Jottar Banquetería' for the March 11 inaugural event. Manouchehri maintains that the vendor is ineligible to contract with the state due to outstanding social security debts. Comptroller Dorothy Pérez must now decide whether these administrative lapses warrant the opening of formal disciplinary proceedings against the executive’s staff.
