Chile's Comptroller General issued a ruling this Thursday validating the use of La\u00f3 Moneda Palace as a presidential residence and a venue for religious activities, dismissing allegations of potential illegalities in President Jos\u00e9 Antonio Kast's administration. The agency, led by Comptroller Dorothy P\u00e9rez, maintained that these practices fall within the "historical purpose and use" of the building.
The ruling comes in response to a complaint filed by David Silva Bernales, Miguel Y\u00e1\u00f1ez Lagos, and other citizens. According to the ruling cited by La Tercera and El Mostrador, the institution concluded that the palace courtyards and halls have historically served as a permanent residence for the President, and that the three existing chaplaincies have official authorization under the coordination of the National Office of Religious Affairs within the Ministry of the General Secretariat of the Presidency.
While the Comptroller's office dismissed the core allegations of the complaint, it imposed a condition: the Presidency's Administrative Directorate must update internal regulations regarding the use of spaces in both La Moneda and Cerro Castillo Palace. According to El Mostrador, these regulations must ensure criteria of integrity, transparency, and oversight, while also guaranteeing that no renovations have been carried out without authorization from the National Monuments Council.
La Moneda's strategy toward Congress
Alongside the administrative resolution, President Jos\u00e9 Antonio Kast, speaking from Costa Rica this Friday, backed statements made by his Finance Minister, Jorge Quiroz, who warned that the Executive will not allow its economic agenda to stall if the so-called "National Reconstruction Law" fails to secure the necessary votes in Parliament.
"Governments continue to govern with the tools they have," the President stated, according to a report by La Tercera. Kast clarified that, in the event of a legislative deadlock, the Government will resort to decrees for matters that do not require organic laws, ensuring that "as long as we do not infringe upon the Legislative Power, we would never attempt to do something like that."
During a seminar at Clapes UC, Minister Quiroz had previously suggested that, facing the risk of the omnibus law failing, the Executive would activate administrative powers to implement measures in areas such as the economy and environmental regulation. This stance revives the political debate from August 2025, when then-candidate Kast downplayed the role of Congress, sparking opposition criticism regarding a potential "authoritarian drift," as reported by El Mostrador.
The President emphasized that his cabinet is aware of constitutional limits. "There are modifications that require legal procedures; we will never disregard that, but governments continue to govern with the legal tools they have," the Head of State insisted during his official tour.
