Original article: El beneficio fiscal que le explota a Kast: jefa de gabinete recibió subsidio mientras era parte de inmobiliaria familiar dueña de 99 terrenos

Controversy Erupts Over Housing Subsidy for Kast’s Chief of Staff Linked to Family Real Estate Wealth

The current Chief of Staff for José Antonio Kast, Catalina Ugarte Millán, is embroiled in a significant controversy following a journalistic investigation that revealed she accessed a state housing subsidy aimed at middle-class families in 2009, despite being part of a family real estate business with substantial holdings.

Records obtained by investigative outlet Fast Check detail how Ugarte, along with three siblings, benefitted from these state contributions to help finance part of the purchase of several apartments in the Santiago area. Official documentation confirms that they remain as current owners of these properties. However, the controversy centers on a violation of one of the program’s requirements: the regulations at that time explicitly stated that neither applicants nor their family groups could own other real estate when applying for the benefit.

This case presents a blatant contradiction to the law, given the Ugarte Millán family’s financial situation at the time of application. According to corporate records, by 2009, the lawyer and founding member of the Republican Party had already been actively involved in a family real estate business that owned a portfolio of at least 99 plots of land, located in the Lampa area. The ownership of these properties, even in co-ownership and intended for investment or future development, conflicts sharply with the charitable spirit of the subsidy, designed to assist families without access to homeownership.

In addition to this real estate business, public records indicate that the Ugarte Millán siblings’ mother owned a residence in an exclusive neighborhood of Las Condes, a highly valued area in eastern Santiago. This property not only represented a significant economic asset but also served as the official residence for the family group. This situation raises questions about how a family with access to high-standard real estate could qualify for a subsidy meant for low-income households.

The investigative report delves into the actual use of the subsidized apartments, adding an additional element of seriousness to the case. An employee of the building where the Ugarte Millán properties are located stated to Fast Check that for at least the past seven years, all these properties have been occupied solely by tenants, not by their owners, suggesting that the apartments did not serve their intended social purpose as homes for the applicant family, but rather became a source of income for the siblings, completely undermining the rationale behind the state-provided subsidy.

Government Defends Ugarte

In response to the dissemination of this information, sources from the Kast government came forward to defend the legality of the process. According to statements gathered by Radio ADN, they indicated that Ugarte fully complied with the rules and requirements in place at the time to obtain the benefit. They noted her current wealth cannot be compared to her financial situation in 2008 and 2009, as she was a recent law graduate from UC. However, this explanation overlooks an objective fact: the prior existence of the real estate company and ownership of the 99 plots in Lampa, assets that were already established at the time of application.