Jorge Quiroz denies favoring real estate project linked to brother

Chilean Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz has denied allegations that government policies designed to accelerate investment project approvals have benefited a real estate project linked to his brother.

The controversy centers on ‘Alto Santorini’, a US$43.6 million development located near the dunes of Concón in the Valparaíso Region. An investigation by CIPER revealed that the project, owned by Inmobiliaria Lote 21 SpA, has family ties to the minister; specifically, the minister's brother, Víctor Quiroz, is part of a group that holds a 12% stake in the initiative.

Despite warnings from the National Geology and Mining Service (Sernageomin) regarding mass movement risks on the terrain, the project received a favorable rating from the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA).

Minister Quiroz defended the government's strategy to speed up decision-making processes, stating that the policies aim to accelerate administrative timelines rather than influence specific outcomes. He emphasized that the Ministry of Finance does not have the authority to grant environmental approvals and maintained that there is no connection between his official duties and the project's progress.