MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Bachelet admits not acting quicker to address political scandals
Bachelet son Sebastian Davalos is accused of having used his connections to help his wife gain preferential access to a 10m dollar loan used for a real-estate deal. Chile's President Michelle Bachelet expressed regret for not having acted quicker and more aggressively to address a raft of political scandals that have alienated voters and dragged her popularity to an historic low
In recent weeks, national headlines have been dominated by illicit campaign financing scandals, involving politicians from a conservative party and her own family.
Late dictator Augusto Pinochet's legacy right-wing UDI party are under investigation for invoicing lithium producer SQM and financial group Penta for services that were never provided.
Separately, Bachelet son Sebastian Davalos is accused of having used his political connections to help his wife gain preferential access to a 10 million dollar loan used for a real-estate deal. In February, he was forced to step down as cultural director at the presidency.
“I didn't condemn these ethically imprudent acts that we all know about in a timely or aggressive enough manner,” said Bachelet. “The situation is painful for many, and certainly for me, and it will likely affect us for some time to come.”
“Bachelet said she will soon present a set of measures to address the issues of corruption, conflict of interest and the delicate balance of politics and money.
A special committee was set up to study the matter and after 45 days of work handed Bachelet 21 recommendations on Friday.
”Lately we've become aware of numerous irregularities, illegalities and corruption in politics and business and in the relationship between them. What few knew before is now obvious to all,“ said Bachelet. ”It is time for sincerity and for action”.
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Read all commentsSo Mami is finding out that the people are not as stupid as those in TDC?
Apr 27th, 2015 - 10:46 am 0I bet she blames THEM for not 'trusting' her to do the right thing.
SA, a continent full of childish 'rulers' who think government money and influence is for their OWN use.
Pathetic really, I expected more from her.
The problem is that she knows all the news through the media, so she always is informed at the same time of the common citizens.....as herself commeted about his son dirty business involvement....
Apr 27th, 2015 - 12:59 pm 0Probably, she can´t o want do more because her conglomerate's politicians and her own presidential campaing officers are all involved into corruption as well as the all wings are, I say communist, demo-christians, socialist, radicals and right wing also.
Hope this “discovery” don´t push to a unique state funding for political parties and their campaigns....which is partly running at this moment.....as the lefties are wanting....
The best is delete all kind of state funding and liberate the quantity of private funding, both for people and companies, but with a total and compulsory transparency and no tax discount as a kind of donation.....so anyone could know who are funding each political party and candidate to any popular elected position and choose his own preference with total knowledge.....
You can never banish it entirely.
Apr 27th, 2015 - 01:06 pm 0But shine as much light as possible onto it.
Again and again and again.
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