MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean Congress to investigate Lagos relatives and friends

Chilean president Ricardo Lagos praised the creation of a Congressional committee to investigate alleged irregularities in government contracts awards involving a consulting company belonging to his brother in law and one of his closest friends.

"It's a splendid idea, but I also hope Deputies act proper and fast because they still have other important legislative issues to address", remarked President Lagos when asked about the committee that was voted in spite of the ruling coalition's opposition.

The consulting company involved "Gescam" which was awarded several contracts by different government offices totalling almost five million US dollars belongs to Hernan Duran, Mr. Lagos' brother in law and Hernan Duran, Chilean ambassador in France Hernan Sandoval.

"I believe two committee proposals were considered in the Lower House and I think it's great", added Socialist President Lagos. Actually the opposition initiative was finally approved by one vote (48/47) with the several members of the ruling coalition's junior partner (Christina Democrats) supporting it or abstaining.

However opposition Deputy Lily Perez pointed out that the committee is not after President Lagos' head, "we're interested in the contracts signed by the Public Works Ministry".

"Nobody is questioning President Lagos, his honour, that's not the point because it's not a personal issue. We must find out if there was net work or who ordered the awarding of the contracts, and if the job was effectively accomplished", underlined Ms. Perez.

"The issue is relatives with contracts, which does not mean relatives don't have the merits for contracts, but rather is they were extended according to rules and regulations".

Furthermore she said that the committee which was finally voted after the ninth request will "try to determine political responsibilities. Obviously we're talking about ministers, deputy ministers and other officials who gave the orders plus those who looked sideways when this happened".

"It's a historic opportunity for the political class to look itself at the mirror and think about principles, leading to further transparency legislation regarding political financing", concluded Ms. Pérez.

Actually President Lagos successor as Minister of Public Works was sent to prison when a network of handouts and contracts with return-hiring was discovered and funds diverted mainly for financing political parties and activities.

The naming of the committee can also be partially explained by the coming presidential election, next December, with Socialist Michele Bachelet as the ruling coalition's candidate leading comfortably in public opinion polls.

Some Christian Democrats also voted the investigation committee out of resentment over the fact that their candidate for the ruling coalition finally dropped out following internal feuding with outside support from the Socialists.