President José Antonio Kast admitted on Friday to making an error due to "a lack of knowledge" after organizing a lunch at La Moneda Palace with former university classmates. The incident has prompted an audit by the Comptroller General of the Republic to determine whether public resources were misused.
Speaking during a seminar organized by the Council for Transparency (CPLT), the President stated that his administration is not looking for excuses to avoid transparency. "It requires more training; it requires—in some cases—saying: 'Let's start over, let's train ourselves, and from here on out, all of this has to change.' But there can no longer be excuses," he said, as reported by CNN Chile.
In the same vein, the Head of State acknowledged the mistake regarding the private gathering: "It is clear that I made an error due to a lack of knowledge, and it will not happen again, so do not worry," he declared.
Details of the Comptroller Audit
The Comptroller General of the Republic has launched an investigation to clarify whether the event involved the misuse of state funds. According to reports from CNN Chile, auditors from the agency visited the Government headquarters to gather information regarding the controversial gathering.
Kast confirmed that his administration has provided all documentation requested by the oversight body. The President detailed that the responses sent include records regarding the use of the presidential dining hall, a cocktail service provided, and information related to the lunch itself.
Regarding the funding of the event, the President clarified that no public funds were used for the food itself, with the exception of the service. "Regarding the lunch, there was no public funding, except for the service," the President specified, as reported by Radio Bío Bío.
With this statement, the President admits there was a limited component of state spending, linked exclusively to staff service during the activity, but denies that the general organization or the food involved expenditures from the public treasury.
Institutional Response and Government Stance
The President also addressed concerns from the opposition, which turned to the Comptroller to file a complaint. Kast expressed his willingness to welcome and appreciate such audits, noting that they serve to improve processes. "One always acts on the basis that an audit is meant to improve something that was not working well. And we all must meet the same standard," he stated.
In a more informal tone, the Head of State joked about the repercussions the controversy might have on the social life of the presidential residence. "No one can feel invited to lunch now, unless it is an official event," he remarked amidst laughter from those present, according to CNN Chile.
The audit process is ongoing, and the Government expects a ruling soon to definitively clarify the situation regarding the expenses associated with the gathering with his former university classmates.
