Chile’s Chamber of Deputies Tuesday approved the impeachment of President Sebastián Piñera by 78 votes for, 67 votes against and 3 abstentions, following revelations in the Pandora Papers regarding possible irregularities in the sale of the Dominga mine. The constitutional accusation will now be heard by the Chilean Senate, where a commission appointed by the Chamber will defend the accusation against the president.

During a session spanning almost 22 hours, the accusing party and the defendant presented their arguments. Deputy Jaime Naranjo, representing the accusers, alleged that the president had “openly infringed the constitution and the laws” and “seriously compromised the honor of the nation .”

Naranjo explained that the sale of the Dominga mine in north-central Chile had benefitted the Piñera family. The mine was sold through a firm owned by the president’s children to a close friend of the president, Carlos Delano, for $152 million. The transaction was effected in the British Virgin Islands allegedly to evade taxes. Payment of the full amount was made contingent on the non-designation of the mining area as “an area of environmental protection.” Naranjo pointed out the adverse impact of the Dominga project on the La Higuera commune, on various flora and fauna and on the health of neighboring human settlements. Naranjo also questioned the non-signing by the president of the Escazú Agreement, an environmental treaty that would have hampered the viability of the mining project. 

President Piñera’s defense was led by lawyer Jorge Gálvez. He characterized the accusation as a “political maneuver” and argued that the president had been accused so that he may be investigated, rather than basing the accusation on evidence resulting from an investigation. Gálvez further stated that the Dominga mining project had been approved in accordance with all regulations and processes and that the State of Chile would have to shoulder international responsibility for violating Piñera’s human rights by pursuing his disqualification based on unverifiable facts. Additionally, Gálvez contended that the president’s rejection of the Escazú Agreement was based on a constitutional prerogative considering Chile’s international interests. 

The opposition leading the accusation will need a minimum of 29 votes out of 43 for the impeachment to pass in the Senate. The Chilean general election is due to be held on November 21, 2021, where a new president will be elected. President Piñera is not a candidate in the upcoming general elections.