MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

New Navy Chief in Chile

New Navy Chief in Chile

Chilean Navy has a new Commander in Chief following Admiral Jorge Arancibia decision to run for a Senate seat in December legislative elections as candidate for an ultra conservative opposition party.
Admiral Arancibia's announcement triggered a political storm both in the ruling coalition as well as in the opposition.

Ruling Socialist and Christian Democrat legislators claim that Admiral Arancibia, a close associate and admirer of General Pinochet, violated the Chilean Constitution by sustaining political contacts while an active officer and are proposing to have him sent to trial.

Actually Admiral Arancibia was even more daring: after it became public he would be involved in politics, he announced his early retirement next July 6th., forcing President Raúl Lagos to replace him with Vice Admiral Miguel Angel Vergara this same week.

But the Conservative opposition, which has steadily moved to the center, even forcing a run off with President Lagos and now ruling Santiago, was also rocked since Admiral Arancibia will try to replace a moderate, civilian Valparaíso Senator belonging to the junior partner Unión Democrática Independiente, meaning this could re ignite the old Pinochet loyalty feud which haunts Chilean right wing, and divides Chilean public opinion.

Besides, President Lagos needs moderate Conservative opposition Senate votes if his proposal to reform the Constitution and definitively curtail military influence is to progress.

Chilean Executive has made it quiet clear that any "constitutional accusation" against the former Navy Chief is entirely "a Legislative branch initiative".