Kastasilandia Case Grips Chile: Opposition Lawmakers Call for Investigation by State Audit Office and Prosecutor’s Office

Original article: Caso «Kastasilandia» escala ante Contraloría y Fiscalía: Grupo parlamentario  anuncia acciones para esclarecer irregularidades

Calls for Investigation into Alleged Irregularities in the Kast Family Project

Kast Family Amusement Park Sparks Legislative Offensive with Actions Before State Audit Office and Prosecutor’s Office

An investigative report by El Mostrador has opened a new political front for the government by exposing details regarding the construction and environmental approval process of Parque Zandia, the amusement park promoted by President José Antonio Kast’s family.

According to El Mostrador, opposition lawmakers, particularly those representing District 14, have announced oversight requests and potential complaints to the General Comptroller’s Office and the Public Prosecutor’s Office to determine if there were any irregularities, privileges, or conflicts of interest during the project’s processing.

Deputy Francisco Crisóstomo (PS), a member of the Environment and Natural Resources Commission, deemed the findings as “of the utmost severity.” He stated that if it is confirmed that the mega-project started construction without the necessary environmental authorizations required by law, it “directly undermines the rule of law and equality before the law.” The deputy emphasized that “in Chile, no one is above the law,” questioning how the presidential family could be linked to a project whose construction allegedly commenced before obtaining an Environmental Qualification Resolution. He also announced that he would seek a review of the actions taken by the public agencies involved and refer the findings to the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the potential existence of crimes, including possible corruption or influence trafficking.

According to El Mostrador, one of the main criticisms is aimed at the current national director of the Environmental Evaluation Service (SEA), Arturo Farías, who allegedly intervened at various stages of the project evaluation while serving as the acting director of the agency in the Metropolitan Region and was later appointed by President Kast through a mechanism known as «silver bullet.» For Crisóstomo, if the processing responded to “pressures, privileges, or conflicts of interest,” it would represent “extremely serious institutional malfeasance.”

Critiques were also supported by Deputy Marisela Santibáñez (Ind.-PC), who questioned the contradictions between the President’s public discourse and the information revealed by the investigation. “He campaigned saying that laws and regulations must be followed, yet he starts a business without permits. He says immigrants should be expelled, but he hires them and exposes them to risks from an unpermitted project,” she asserted. The deputy also stated that the case “severely damages public trust” and criticized that Arturo Farías continues to lead the SEA despite having previously participated in significant stages of the project’s environmental evaluation.

From the Frente Amplio party, deputies Ignacio Achurra and Jaime Bassa confirmed the initiation of oversight actions. Achurra reported that he has already reached out to the Environmental Evaluation Service and the Labor Directorate to understand the chronology and the details presented by the report, noting that “if irregularities are confirmed, it would be particularly concerning since these involve the business dealings of President Kast’s family.” Bassa added that if the published facts are validated, it will be essential to clear any doubts regarding the functioning of the institutions responsible for environmental evaluation, reminding that “environmental regulations, administrative permits, protection for workers, and community participation are guarantees that limit the exercise of power and safeguard the public interest.” With announced oversight requests and potential administrative and criminal investigations underway, the case is beginning to emerge as a new political and institutional front for La Moneda.