16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

November 9, 2021 9:16 AM -03 Last Updated 8 days ago

Americas

Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-

house approval
By Natalia A. Ramos Miranda 2 minute read

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 1/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

Jaime Naranjo, opposition deputy of the socialist party, speaks during a discussion on a constitutional
accusation against President Sebastian Pinera over possible irregularities in the sale of a mining company,
after details emerged about the deal in the Pandora Papers leak, at the congress in Valparaiso, Chile,
November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido

SANTIAGO, Nov 9 (Reuters) - An impeachment process against Chilean President Sebastián

Piñera over allegations of irregularities in the sale of a mining firm, will advance to the Senate
after being approved by a majority of deputies in the lower chamber early on Tuesday.

After almost 22 hours of debate, the vote to proceed passed with the minimum 78 votes needed,
versus 67 against and three abstentions. In the Senate it would require a higher threshold of the
vote at two-thirds of the 43 senators.

The impeachment proceedings against Pinera come after new details emerged about the deal in
the Pandora Papers leak, a huge cache of documents that revealed offshore transactions
involving global political and business figures.

Among them were documents that appear to outline a deal involving the 2010 sale of the
Dominga mine, a sprawling copper and iron project in Chile. At the time, Pinera, a billionaire
businessman, was in his first year of his first term in office.

The leak stirred controversy in Chile because it suggested the deal, which involved a firm linked
to Pinera's family, was contingent on a favorable regulatory environment. The sale had
previously been examined and dismissed by courts in 2017.

Pinera, a center-right politician who will end his term as president early next year, has rejected
the accusations and argued that all the details of the contract were in the file previously
reviewed and that no irregularities were found.

The marathon debate in the lower chamber saw one deputy speak for around 15 hours in a bid to
prolong the vote and allow another lawmaker to join the proceedings who had been serving a
mandatory coronavirus quarantine period.

The controversy comes ahead of presidential and legislative elections on Nov. 21, with right-wing
candidate Jose Antonio Kast leading in pre-election opinion polls ahead of leftist Gabriel Boric.
Pinera is not a candidate in those elections.

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 2/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

Reporting by Natalia Ramos; Editing by Fabian Cambero and Bernadette Baum

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

More from Reuters

Floods, landslides
damage roads in
Western Canada

Five stories you need to

know about today

Middle East's largest

aquarium opens

'We are doomed':

Kenyans slam COP26
deal

Attacks stop Polish

NGO work near Belarus
border

Read Next

Americas 10:14 AM -03

Colombian troop surge seeks to stem drug-linked Venezuelan border violence

Americas November 9, 2021

Analysis: Corporate Mexico feels heat from global supply chain crunch

Americas November 15, 2021

Analysis: Chile copper giants seek stability in uncertain political times

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 3/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

Macro Matters November 10, 2021

Analysis: Caveat emptor: Chile stocks look cheap, but political risk is rising

Sign up for our newsletter

Subscribe for our daily curated newsletter to receive the latest exclusive Reuters coverage delivered to your
inbox.

Sign up

Sponsored Content

What is
Make an Lograr la
The latest the
executive economía
trends on latest
decision circular
responsible on
to push
investing Sponsored by Sponsored by ETFs?
your
Harvard
Sponsored
Altas
career by
Business Renewable
Sponsored by MarketViews
forward.
School Energy
MarketViews
Learn
more.

Americas

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 4/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

Americas · November 9, 2021 · 7:45 PM -03

Pfizer to apply for COVID vaccine use in Brazil for children 5-11
years
Pfizer Inc plans to seek Brazil's authorization to use its COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 5 to 11
years, the country's health regulator Anvisa said on Tuesday after a meeting with the U.S.
company.

Americas
Cuban protest leader to march alone, white rose in hand, ahead of rallies
November 11, 2021

Americas
Biden signs bill calling for more sanctions, pressure on Nicaragua
November 10, 2021

Americas
Disney's Encanto celebrates Colombia's diversity, says musician Carlos Vives
November 11, 2021

Americas
Caracas cafe culture flourishes as Venezuela dollarizes economy
November 10, 2021

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 5/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

Sponsored Content

What is Trending
El papel the news on Sostenibilidad
del latest Gold y las
integrador on Markets. necesidades
de ETFs?
sistemas Sponsored energéticas
by Sponsored by de la
en los by
Sponsored MarketViews MarketViews digitalización,
procesos
Rockwell Sponsored by Altas
de Renewable Energy

innovación

Sponsored Content

Make an Oil.
The latest Robotics What
executive
trends on and next?
decision
responsible Artificial
to push
investing Sponsored by Intelligence.
your
Harvard
Sponsored
career Discover the by
Business
Sponsored by trends.
Sponsored by MarketViews
forward.
School
MarketViews MarketViews
Learn
more.

Sponsored Content

Lograr la The
The latest Discover
economía Latest
news on the latest
circular Market
commodity trends
Thinking
Sponsored by markets and ideas
From
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 6/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters
From
Altas from for
The
Sponsored by
Renewable leading
Sponsored by retirement
Sponsored by
Energy World's
MarketViews
experts
MarketViews planning.
MarketViews
Finance
Experts

Latest Browse

Home World
Business
Media
Legal
Videos
Markets
Pictures
Breakingviews
Graphics
Technology
Investigations
Lifestyle

About Reuters

About Reuters
Careers
Reuters News Agency
Brand Attribution Guidelines
Reuters Leadership
Reuters Fact Check
Reuters Diversity Report

Stay Informed

Download the App

Newsletters

Information you can trust

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching
billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to
professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Follow Us

Thomson Reuters Products

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 7/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters
Thomson Reuters Products

Westlaw Onesource Checkpoint

Build the strongest argument relying on The most comprehensive solution to The industry leader for online information
authoritative content, attorney-editor manage all your complex and ever- for tax, accounting and finance
expertise, and industry defining technology. expanding tax and compliance needs. professionals.

Refinitiv Products

Eikon Refinitiv Data Platform World-Check

Information, analytics and exclusive news Access to real-time, reference, and non-real Screen for heightened risk individual and
on financial markets - delivered in an time data in the cloud to power your entities globally to help uncover hidden
intuitive desktop and mobile interface. enterprise. risks in business relationships and human
networks.

Advertise With Us Advertising Guidelines

All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays.

Cookies Terms of Use Privacy Corrections Site Feedback

© 2021 Reuters. All rights reserved

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 8/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 9/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 10/11
16/11/21 11:39 Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval | Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/chile-impeachment-vote-heads-senate-after-lower-house-approval-2021-11-09/ 11/11