Deputy Cristián Contreras, widely known as "Dr. File," confirmed in a CNN Prime interview that he is considering resigning from the Partido de la Gente (PDG). The lawmaker cited deep ideological fractures and personal conflicts with party figures Franco and Zandra Parisi as the primary drivers for his potential departure.
Contreras remains a member of the party, though he noted that the parliamentary caucus has actively sought to expel him. However, Chamber of Deputies Secretary General Miguel Landeros clarified that the caucus cannot remove a member as long as they maintain their formal party affiliation.
Ideological drift and power struggles
The tension escalated when Contreras refused to support Pamela Jiles’ bid for the presidency of the Chamber of Deputies. "That is the underlying reason," he told CNN Prime. He described the party’s subsequent decision to align with a coalition including the Communist Party and the Frente Amplio as a betrayal of the PDG’s foundational principles.
Contreras characterized the modern PDG as a "neopopulist" entity drifting toward the left. He argued that the party has abandoned its original goal of cultivating a centrist political identity. "They have leaned toward the left and are not cultivating the political center," he said.
Beyond political strategy, Contreras demanded greater fiscal transparency from the party leadership. He questioned the handling of funds provided by the Electoral Service (Servel), noting that the 2022 financial balance was not approved until 2025. "I want to know what the party does with the money it receives," he stated, calling for a formal investigation.
Relations between Contreras and the Parisi camp reached a low point on March 11, when he claims Franco Parisi ceased all communication with him. Despite the hostility, the deputy did not entirely rule out a reconciliation if the party addresses his concerns regarding financial transparency and its shifting political alliances.
If Contreras follows through with his resignation, he indicated he would look beyond the current left-wing blocs for a new political home. He described a potential move toward Republican or Libertarian factions as a viable option. For now, he remains in a state of political limbo, waiting to see how the internal dynamics of the PDG evolve.
