Chilean Finance Minister conflict of interest allegations

Chilean Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz has faced allegations of conflict of interest regarding government policies intended to accelerate investment project approvals. The controversy initially centered on the ‘Alto Santorini’ real estate development in Concón, a US$43.6 million project in which the minister’s brother holds a 12% stake. Despite warnings from the National Geology and Mining Service regarding terrain risks, the project received a favorable environmental rating.

Minister Quiroz denied any wrongdoing, stating that the government’s administrative acceleration policies aim to improve timelines rather than influence specific outcomes, and maintained that the Ministry of Finance lacks authority over environmental approvals.

Following these reports, opposition lawmakers have called for a Special Investigative Commission to probe the minister. The investigation is expected to look into whether the ministry accelerated permits for the Alto Santorini project and a potassium salt production plant in the Salar de Atacama belonging to Grupo Errázuriz, a company where Quiroz previously served as a private consultant. Lawmakers have raised concerns regarding transparency and potential influence peddling.