The most important Chilean news of the day, in summary.
Chile's Monday combined court, security and economic news with preparations for bad weather. A court sent a former official back to full house arrest, and President José Antonio Kast approved a new police leadership. Economists and politicians debated the economic slowdown, jobs and pension fund losses. The 2027 budget drew concern from a cultural venue, while authorities and firefighters prepared for heavy rain across central regions. Sport and culture marked the death of a figure from the 1962 World Cup.
The Corte de Apelaciones de Santiago, the appeals court, revoked a change that had limited former Interior undersecretary Manuel Monsalve to night-time house arrest. He is accused of rape and sexual abuse. The court accepted arguments from the Ministerio Público, the prosecutors' office, and he must stay in his Viña del Mar apartment all day.
President José Antonio Kast approved the 2027 high command of the Policía de Investigaciones (PDI), the civilian police. Director general Eduardo Cerna Lozano proposed it through the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública. It retires 12 senior officers, promotes 13 and has 35 leadership posts. Cerna Lozano stays in charge.
Former Banco Central president José De Gregorio told La Tercera's Money Talks he is surprised and struggles to explain what is happening. The paper describes an economy close to technical recession, growth expected below 1% this year, and unemployment nearing double digits, with almost one million people out of work.
Diario Financiero reports that two milestones could shape trade talks between Chile and Washington: the US midterm elections on November 3 and a possible January decision on a 15% tariff on copper. Chile is talking with the USTR, the US trade representative's office, to reverse a 12.5% tariff applied in July.
Former finance minister Mario Marcel will teach at the Universidad Diego Portales (UDP) business and economics faculty from November 1. El Mostrador reports he also questioned the employment plan of President Kast's government. He is one of several academics who joined the faculty this year, including economist Salvador Valdés.
Former labor minister and presidential candidate Jeannette Jara called the investment results of the AFP, the private pension fund managers, that hit Fondo E "brutal". She asked for compensation for members, starting with those closest to retiring. Sources do not say how far the fund fell. She also rejected a new pension withdrawal.
President Kast instructed the Ministerio del Interior to declare a Preventive Climate Emergency from the Coquimbo Region to the Biobío Region, from Sunday October 18 to Friday October 23. He cited Senapred, the disaster prevention agency, which warns of heavy rain, hail and possible landslides.
The 2027 budget bill eliminates the $2,165 million the Centro de Extensión Artística y Cultural (CEAC) of the Universidad de Chile received this year from the culture ministry. Director Dominique Thomann Etchegaray said this puts the operation of the Gran Sala Sinfónica Nacional at risk.
Kast approved the proposal for the PDI's 2027 high command from director general Eduardo Cerna Lozano. Twelve senior officers leave and 13 are promoted. Per El Mostrador, the proposal reached La Moneda via the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública, and the leadership will have 35 posts. Cerna stays as director.
Manuel Burboa Valdés died Monday at 98. He worked for the Federación de Fútbol de Chile, served on the 1962 World Cup organizing committee and is credited with creating the national team's tricolor badge. He will be bid farewell Tuesday, October 20, at the Parque del Recuerdo in Huechuraba.
The Cuerpo de Bomberos de Santiago placed volunteers on standby from 18:00 on Monday, October 19, as a new frontal system approaches the Región Metropolitana. Commander Giorgio Tromben decided it, and surveillance was reinforced in Las Condes and Lo Barnechea because of landslide risk after the October 8 flooding.
Justo Álvarez, president of the Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Amateur (ANFA), told La Tercera his group's votes in the coming Federación de Fútbol de Chile election will never go to those who opposed separation from the ANFP, the professional clubs' association. No other outlet has confirmed it.
