The most important Chilean news of the day, in summary.
Heavy rain and hail led authorities to declare a Red Alert across the Región Metropolitana, and the Mapocho river overflowed in Talagante. In politics, President José Antonio Kast approved the 2027 senior command of Carabineros, a Senate committee leadership change split the opposition, and Codelco union leaders asked for clarity on the Potrerillos smelter. Pension regulators opened sanctions against the seven AFP, and health authorities approved the first generic semaglutide.
President José Antonio Kast approved the 2027 senior command of Carabineros on Monday, October 19, through the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública. The plan includes eight generals moving to retirement and nine promotions. It was proposed by Director General Marcelo Araya Zapata, who kept his core strategic team, including deputy director Enrique Monrás Álvarez.
Senator Pedro Araya (independent-PPD) made the accusation on Tuesday after the Socialismo Democrático caucus removed him as head of the Senate Constitution Committee. Vlado Mirosevic of the Partido Liberal will replace him. The caucus, which groups the PS, PPD and PL, filed a formal request on Monday, led by senator Juan Luis Castro (PS), according to CNN Chile.
The Superintendencia de Pensiones, headed by Joaquín Cortez, opened a sanctions process against the seven pension fund managers (AFP). It attributes to them responsibility in investment decisions that led to heavy losses in funds D and E. Interest rate swaps went from gains of US$1,400 million to losses of US$7,700 million, and fund E has fallen 10.39% in real terms.
Opposition lawmakers, mayors and union leaders from Codelco's Salvador division went to La Moneda to give President Kast a letter. They ask whether the Potrerillos smelter in the Región de Atacama will continue. The group included Diego de Almagro mayor Mario Araya and Chañaral mayor Alex Ahumada. Unions warn a closure would affect more than 4,000 jobs in Chañaral province.
Senapred, the national disaster prevention and response service, ordered the evacuation of the Ribera del Río camp in Talagante after 19:00 on Tuesday, October 20, due to the Mapocho river overflow. It also used the SAE, a mobile phone alert system. Its night report counts 111 people in shelters, 103 of them in the Región Metropolitana, and two people affected nationwide.
Senapred declared a Red Alert for the whole Región Metropolitana on Tuesday after rain, thunderstorms and hail across several communes. The measure first applied to ten communes in the Andean foothills, including San José de Maipo, Puente Alto and Pirque. It was widened because rain was falling heavily in communes such as Maipú and San Bernardo, according to Emol.
The Instituto de Salud Pública (ISP), which authorizes medicines in Chile, approved Picmagluti, an injectable solution from Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Chile. It is the first chemically synthesized semaglutide authorized in the country, using the active ingredient of Novo Nordisk's Ozempic. The product received two health registrations, for 0.25 or 0.5 mg and for 1 mg doses. Five similar products from four laboratories await registration.
