Chilean Cabinet Chief of Staff asked to resign over bribery

On June 7, Chilean politicians asked the country's Chief of Cabinet, Jorge Insunza, to resign because he received fees from a mining company while serving as Chairman of the House of Representatives' Minerals Committee.

Chile's Chuquicamata copper mine. Illustration photo (Source: wikipedia.org).

Mr. Insunza was a member of the ruling coalition's Democratic Party (PPD) until May 11 when he was appointed Chief Cabinet Secretary.

On May 6, President Michelle Bachelet suddenly announced a complete change of cabinet after 14 months in power of her second presidential term, while her reputation has significantly decreased following a series of corruption scandals.

Mr. Insunza himself also admitted to receiving fees from Antofagasta Minerals until the end of last year for him to deliver periodic political reports.

According to the judicial authorities' accusation, companies use such fees to try to reduce taxes they have to pay to the state.

Meanwhile, politicians in this country said that although Chilean law allows lawmakers to have jobs other than performing their legislative duties, the fact that Mr. Insunza, head of the House of Representatives Minerals Committee, works for a mining company is unacceptable in terms of "ethics"./.

(According to VN+)