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Budget Cut to Prosecutor's Office: Lawmakers Summon Marcel and Valencia to Attend Public Security Committee

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The news that the government, as part of a global adjustment of $544 billion committed in the Budget Law, decided to cut $7 billion from the Public Prosecutor's Office—a key institution in the fight against organized crime—caused a major stir in Congress.

The cut, revealed by "El Mercurio," stems from an agreement signed within the framework of the mixed Budget Committee, which was celebrated by senators Ricardo Lagos (PPD), Juan Antonio Coloma (UDI), José Miguel Insulza (PS), and Rodrigo Galilea (RN).

The committee determined that certain areas, such as Health, Education, Carabineros (police), and Gendarmerie (prison service), would not face budget reductions; however, the Public Prosecutor's Office was not included in this protection.

This has raised concerns among lawmakers in both the Senate and Chamber of Deputies' Security Committees, who now seek to summon relevant authorities for explanations and, if possible, reverse the measure.

Gloria Naveillán (Ind.), president of the Chamber's Public Security Committee, mentioned that this will be a topic in today's session, as National Prosecutor Ángel Valencia will attend: "First, we must hear from the affected party, the Public Prosecutor's Office. At the same time, the Finance Minister (Mario Marcel) must also be heard."

"Apparently, they followed what was established in the protocol with the Budget Subcommittee, in terms of not touching the budget of..."

She adds that the Public Prosecutor's Office is responsible for pursuing organized crime and corruption, stating that "not understanding that this budget cannot be touched so they can do their job is, frankly, not understanding anything."

Meanwhile, the Chamber's Finance Committee will receive Marcel and Budget Director Javiera Martínez. The committee's chairman, Deputy Carlos Bianchi (Ind.), noted that while the summons relates to another issue, "this severely affects all the work and follow-up the Prosecutor's Office is carrying out, and I join in demanding that the Finance Minister find other ways to raise funds instead of cutting this significant amount."

Meanwhile, Senate Public Security Committee Chairman Iván Flores (DC) said: "Without a doubt, we will summon the Finance Minister, the Undersecretary (of Finance), or the Budget Director to explain what on earth happened here. Because we understand this was part of the agreement to enable the Budget Law due to demands from the right-wing."

He added, "But beware, no one expected these cuts to affect critical allocations for the Public Prosecutor's Office, as well as other institutions responsible for protecting the State and the community."

Lawmakers Urge Reconsideration of Budget Cut

Yesterday, lawmakers across the political spectrum criticized the implemented measure, despite it being part of an agreement.

Nevertheless, PPD President and Senate Public Security Committee member Jaime Quintana stated: "One knows where budget cuts begin, but never where they end. The opposition was the first to demand general cuts early in the budget discussion. I hope this reduction to the Public Prosecutor's Office can be reconsidered, or it may impact security objectives."

Raúl Leiva (PS), a deputy on the Public Security Committee, noted that while understanding the mixed committee's agreement—and that agencies like Carabineros were excluded—"it should extend to all those involved in criminal prosecution, including, of course, the Public Prosecutor's Office, the Public Defender's Office, Criminal Courts, and the Legal Medical Service, as applicable."

UDI Senator and Public Security Committee member José Miguel Durana stated, "This decision undermines the operational capacity of the Public Prosecutor's Office, the safety of its professionals, and access to necessary equipment and technology to investigate complex crimes related to organized crime." He emphasized: "Such measures not only harm public security but also erode public trust in the State's resource management."

Source:El Mercurio