Minister of Science Ximena Lincolao faced a hostile exit from the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) in Valdivia on Wednesday, enduring verbal abuse, shoving, and having water thrown at her by a group of student protesters. The incident occurred as the Minister left the campus's Aula Magna, where she had been held under guard for nearly three hours following an academic year inauguration event.
According to footage obtained by Radio Bío Bío, the Minister was surrounded by demonstrators while attempting to reach her official vehicle. Despite being escorted by security personnel and advisors, she was subjected to insults and physical jostling as the crowd grew increasingly aggressive. Minister of Energy Ximena Rincón later noted on social media that the Minister had to be escorted by the PDI (Investigations Police) to prevent serious injury, according to Cooperativa.cl. The security team was forced to accelerate their departure to ensure the Minister could safely board her car.
Student organizers acknowledged that a dialogue session had taken place earlier in the day. However, they claimed that the Minister’s responses failed to satisfy their demands, which they cited as a factor in the escalation of tensions during the afternoon. Following the incident, the Federation of Students of the Universidad Austral de Chile (FEUACh) issued a statement condemning the attack, asserting that they "will not harbor any act of violence" against the Minister. While the group maintained that student mobilization remains a legitimate expression of discontent, they emphasized that the majority of the day's protests were peaceful, according to the FEUACh statement.
By Wednesday night, Minister Lincolao addressed the incident from the Palacio de La Moneda in Santiago, standing alongside President José Antonio Kast, First Lady María Pía Adriasola, and several other cabinet members. She maintained a defiant stance, stating, “No tengo miedo. Esto no me va a parar a mí ni al resto de los ministros.” (I am not afraid. This will not stop me or the rest of the ministers.)
Lincolao defended her commitment to her role, noting that she had left a life in the United States to serve. She explained that her motivation stems from a desire to "give back" to the country that provided her with her education at the University of La Serena, according to CNN Chile. “Voy a seguir yendo a las universidades,” she asserted. “Yo no creo que esto nos pare para nada. Yo estoy acá con la dedicación absoluta de hacer el mejor trabajo posible. Mi hijo y mi marido merecen que yo pueda tener éxito en este trabajo. Y eso significa éxito para los chilenos.” Regarding the political support she received, she added, “Lo único que puedo decir es que ese apoyo transversal que hoy he visto de todas las autoridades y de todos los colores, como se dice en Chile, políticos, creo que es una gran oportunidad para que tengamos un nuevo comienzo donde nosotros como gobierno podamos todos trabajar juntos por un mejor Chile.”
Government response and legal action
President José Antonio Kast announced that his administration will file a formal complaint regarding the assault. The executive branch officially announced it will file a criminal complaint for "attack on an authority," which will be sponsored by the Ministry of Public Security, according to Cooperativa.cl. Speaking at 11:00 p.m. from La Moneda, the President characterized the attack as an act of “total irrationality” by individuals who “don’t even deserve to be called students.”
Kast, who blamed the incident on an “ideologized group” seeking to silence the government, insisted that those responsible “will not go unpunished.” He stated that the event should serve as an inflection point for the nation, emphasizing that violence is unacceptable. The government condemned the incident in the "strongest terms," stating that "violence has no place in classrooms, on campuses, or in any space of Chilean democratic life," according to Cooperativa.cl. Additionally, CNN Chile reported that the Public Prosecutor's Office has initiated an investigation into the assault. Meanwhile, the FEUACh criticized the government in their statement, blaming the administration's "lack of governance" and "indolence" for the current climate of social conflict.
