Several former officials from Gabriel Boric’s current administration have been brought into the Peñalolén municipal staff under the leadership of Mayor Miguel Concha. These personnel shifts have sparked backlash from local opposition, who are questioning the motives behind these appointments.
Notable among the new hires is Nicole Martínez, an industrial civil engineer who joined the Community Development Directorate (Dideco) last week. During the current administration, Martínez held key positions within the General Secretariat of the Presidency and the Undersecretariat of Social Services.
Another significant appointment is Francisco Pinochet, who took over as General Secretary of the Municipal Corporation (Cercup) in March. Between 2022 and 2026, Pinochet served as the head of the Municipalities Division at the Undersecretariat of Regional Development (Subdere).
Criticism over alleged political patronage
Renovación Nacional councilman Ignacio Sánchez criticized Pinochet's arrival, suggesting that replacing long-serving officials points to an intent to favor political allies. "They removed the Cercup secretary, who had been there for over nine years... just to bring in the former head of the Municipalities Division from Subdere. This is yet another sign of looking out for their own rather than promoting a professional civil service career," the councilman stated.
Sánchez also expressed his hope that these appointments would benefit residents rather than the structures of the Communist Party or the Broad Front. He noted that while the mayor has the authority to form his own team, the priority must remain on municipal management.
The list of new collaborators also includes Óscar Aroca, former chief of staff to former Minister Nicolás Cataldo, who joined the mayor's team as an advisor last July. Additionally, Macarena Huaiquimilla has joined, having previously served as an advisor for presidential programming.
Sources close to the municipality maintain that these profiles are intended to bolster technical management following a renewal of the leadership team. These changes follow the departure of directors from former Mayor Carolina Leitao's administration, which faced a 12 billion peso deficit at the close of 2024.
Analysts of local municipal politics indicate that Mayor Concha is looking to strengthen his team with politically aligned profiles amid internal competition within the Broad Front.