Karol Cariola resigned as Chile’s Lower House Speaker after leaked chats criticizing President Boric surfaced. She is under investigation for potential influence peddling and has condemned the breach of her privacy. The situation has intensified internal tensions within Boric’s coalition. Prosecutor Patricio Cooper was reassigned from the case amid investigations into Hassler’s building acquisition plans and subsequent leaks.

Chilean Congresswoman Karol Cariola, currently on maternity leave, recently resigned from her position as Speaker of the Lower House following the leak of private conversations that criticized President Gabriel Boric Font. Cariola is further entangled in controversy as she is under investigation for alleged influence peddling related to a request for assistance on behalf of a Chinese businessman from former Santiago Mayor Irací Hassler.

The leaked conversations revealed Cariola’s strong disapproval of Boric, describing him as “a shitty human being” and his administration as the “worst thing that has happened to us.” In her resignation statement, she emphasized the need for tranquility as she prioritizes the care of her newborn son while also addressing the attacks against her.

Cariola argued that her actions regarding the Chile-China friendship group were merely requests for guidance and insisted she did not engage in any illegal activities. She expressed that the leak of private communications violated her right to privacy and claimed her conversations were misrepresented. President Boric acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations but emphasized the importance of impartial justice rather than turning colleagues against one another.

The resignation follows the publication of leaked text messages between Cariola and Hassler by La Tercera. This situation escalated when police raided Cariola’s apartment to seize devices during her maternity leave, which she deemed a violation of her rights. Tensions have been heightened within Boric’s coalition amid these controversies, with criticism directed towards figures like Spokeswoman Camila Vallejo.

Furthermore, in 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office commenced an investigation into Irací Hassler’s attempted acquisition of the Sierra Bella building for municipal use, suspecting financial misconduct. During the investigation, controversial messages between Hassler and Cariola were uncovered, leading to Hassler dropping her plans and initiating legal actions against property appraisers. Recently, Chief Prosecutor Ángel Valencia reassigned the case to Claudia Perivancich after removing prosecutor Patricio Cooper from oversight.

Hassler also lodged a criminal complaint concerning the breach of secrecy due to the leaks of her private conversations with Cariola, labeling it as a “political operation.”

In summary, Karol Cariola’s resignation as Speaker of the Chilean Lower House highlights significant political tensions and issues of privacy in Chilean politics. The leaks of private conversations criticizing President Gabriel Boric and the ensuing investigations of alleged misconduct have strained relationships within the governing coalition. The ramifications of these events underscore the delicate balance of personal and political responsibilities, particularly in light of Cariola’s maternity leave.

Original Source: en.mercopress.com

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