Peñalolén Mayor Miguel Concha (Frente Amplio) has added a number of former officials who held strategic roles during Gabriel Boric's government to his municipal team.
Among the new arrivals is Nicole Martínez, an industrial civil engineer and a veteran figure of Revolución Democrática. Martínez previously served as an advisor in the Ministry of the General Secretariat of the Presidency (Segpres) and the Ministry of Social Development under Giorgio Jackson and Javiera Toro.
Also joining the municipality is Francisco Pinochet, who served as head of the municipal division at Subdere from 2022 to 2024. The agronomist took over as secretary-general of the Municipal Corporation in March.
Additionally, Macarena Huaiquimilla, a former advisor for President Boric’s scheduling team, has taken a role in the commune’s management and control department.
Criticism over the use of public office
The arrival of these figures has sparked backlash from the opposition, which accuses the mayor of using the municipal administration as a safe haven for political operatives.
"We hope this directly benefits the residents of our commune, rather than simply being a favor to the Communist Party or the Frente Amplio," said Councilman Ignacio Sánchez (RN).
The councilman specifically criticized the replacement of experienced staff with new hires linked to the governing coalition. "They removed the secretary of the Municipal Corporation, who had been there for over nine years, just to bring in the former head of the Subdere Municipal Division," Sánchez stated.
Sources close to Concha maintain that these hires are necessary to strengthen specific technical areas. According to municipal sources, the mayor is looking to overhaul the leadership team by replacing directors who served under the previous administration of Mayor Carolina Leitao.
Internal municipal sources suggest this move is also part of a strategy to bolster political standing against other Frente Amplio leaders, such as Maipú’s Tomás Vodanovic.
