Original article: “Republicano o hijo/a de republicano”: seremi de Salud de Arica buscó personal para su repartición en un chat del Partido Republicano

Controversy Erupts as Health Official in Arica Uses Republican Party Chat for Recruitment

The Health Secretary of Arica and Parinacota, Karla Kepec Álvarez, is at the center of a controversy following the leak of a WhatsApp message indicating that she used a chat from the Republican Party to recruit staff for her public office.

The message, sent to a group of party members numbering approximately 300, was obtained from a confidential source whose identity will be protected, revealing a political affiliation criterion for securing two positions in the laboratory area of a public agency.

The message, aimed at Republican Party members, reads: “Along with greeting you and hoping you are well, I want to inform you of a need in my Health Secretary Service for 02 Medical Technologists specialized in Laboratory to join my LabSal department”.

However, the most concerning aspect is the explicit condition added by the official: “Republican or child of a Republican, please send CV to [email protected]”.

The offer concludes with a promise of “immediate integration” following an interview, sending “affection to all” along with the motto “we continue to work for our Region and Government”.

The use of a party group to offer positions in a public agency has raised alarms about potential violations of transparency and merit principles in public service. The fact that the secretary requested CVs be sent directly to the Republican Party’s email in Arica, rather than the official platform of the agency, reinforces suspicions of preferential treatment based on party affiliation, excluding other professionals who do not belong to this far-right group or have familial ties to it.

Karla Kepec, a surgeon from the University of Concepción, took office on March 26, 2026, with responsibilities for regulatory, normative, and oversight tasks aimed at improving the health of the population. However, if this practice is confirmed, it would contradict the impartiality duty that must govern state administration, where access to positions should be based on suitability, not party loyalty.

The phone number from which the message was disseminated does indeed correspond to the secretary, confirming the authenticity of the communication.

The leak of this conversation exposes a presumed act of political co-optation within a state entity, which could lead to investigations for potential violations of labor laws and administrative integrity.

As of the closing of this report, the official has not made an official statement regarding the revealed facts.