Lawmakers from the governing parties challenged Labor Minister Tomás Rau this week, according to La Tercera. The reason was his call for workers nearing retirement to exercise "caution" and postpone the decision following the decline in Fund E.
Fund E is the most conservative of the pension funds managed by AFPs (Pension Fund Administrators). It typically attracts people who are close to retirement. The source does not specify the size of the decline.
"We need to learn about this investigation, whether there will be sanctions, whether there will be restitution of assets or not," Rau said. He added that "caution is a good guide in this case" and urged people not to make hasty decisions, "insofar as it can be postponed for a few months."
The harshest reaction came from the UDI. Deputy Jaime Coloma described the remarks as "utterly unacceptable". He argued that an AFP had caused the problem and that there should be "sanctions that set an example." "Just as they told the AFP to postpone the retirement age," he said sarcastically.
Coloma also called for a stronger political component in the communications teams of all ministries. His fellow party colleague, deputy caucus leader Sergio Bobadilla, called for greater caution on issues affecting "the pensions of millions of Chileans." "A measure may be very good technically, but politically it can have an unwanted effect," he said.
From RN, the vice president of the Chamber of Deputies, Ximena Ossandón, played down the substance of the issue but warned: "Those who explain get themselves into trouble." In her view, on sensitive and technical issues, the first step must be to empathize with those affected.
Senator Andrés Longton (RN) attributed the missteps to many ministers' lack of prior political experience. "It is a constant learning process," he said.
Deputy Jorge Guzmán (Evópoli) called for a warning to the entire cabinet. In his view, "social sensitivity" must take precedence over technical pragmatism when communicating. He also spoke of "a certain disconnect" in the way ministers express themselves.
The criticism was not directed solely at Rau. The ruling coalition also questioned Justice Minister Fernando Rabat for authorizing the Supreme Court ruling that reduced the sentences of 56 people convicted of sexual abuse. Both episodes occurred during a difficult week for the government.
The criticism came just as Gonzalo Arenas took office as the new undersecretary of the General Secretariat of Government (Segegob), the ministry responsible for serving as the government's official spokesperson. Guzmán argued that ministers must improve their communications alongside whatever Arenas can do. Rau had not responded to the criticism, according to the available information.
