Weekly Report - 24 August 2023 (WR-23-34)

Chile’s government led by President Gabriel Boric has been dealt another blow in the form of controversy surrounding Susana Herrera, which resulted in her replacement this week as ambassador to the UK. The polemic centres on an initiative that Herrera presented to the governor of Chile’s southern Biobío region and for which she sought funding of US$5m. Although the foreign ministry accepted Herrera’s resignation on 22 August, the incident is damaging for Boric’s government, not least given it comes in the midst of the ongoing ‘Caso Convenios’ scandal, which concerns the improper awarding of government contracts to private entities [WR-23-31].