Government spokesperson Mara Sedini is fighting to maintain her position as one of the lowest-ranked ministers in President José Antonio Kast’s administration. Facing pressure from both the opposition and elements within the government coalition, Sedini has been criticized for her communication style and a series of technical and political missteps during her first weeks in office.
Addressing the scrutiny during an interview on Radio 13C, Sedini dismissed the criticism as “political anxiety” characterized by a lack of understanding regarding the realities of establishing a new government. She affirmed her commitment to her role, stating, “Each person will say how they would like a spokesperson to be; in this case, it is me, and the style is mine, and it is also the style of President Kast.”
Congressional tensions mount
The most immediate pressure stems from Sedini’s repeated absences from congressional committee hearings. The minister was scheduled to appear before the Culture Committee this week to address the government's stance on the proposed restructuring of Televisión Nacional (TVN), but she failed to attend. She also excused herself from a Tuesday session with the Chamber of Deputies’ Internal Government Committee.
Opposition lawmakers have demanded an immediate change in the minister's approach. Deputy Andrea Parra argued that the spokesperson is failing to provide necessary clarity on key government policy. Deputy César Valenzuela of the Socialist Party went further, alleging that Sedini’s office attempted to deflect parliamentary questioning by requesting that the subsecretary of the General Secretariat of the Government, Juan Francisco Lagos, attend in her stead.
Government allies have pushed back against these claims. Deputy Claudia Mora of the National Renewal party defended the administration, suggesting that the opposition should focus on their own electoral failures rather than scrutinizing the spokesperson. Republican deputy Felipe Ross echoed this sentiment, stating that the minister’s explanations for her absences were reasonable.
Central to the upcoming legislative debate is the financial crisis at state broadcaster TVN. The network reported losses of 15.5 billion Chilean pesos in 2025, with accumulated losses reaching $115.7 million by the end of the year. Sedini noted that incoming TVN board president Patricio Dussaillant will begin formal negotiations regarding the broadcaster's future this weekend.
