Independent Deputy Cristián Tapia Challenges Senator Arturo Squella on Codelco Privatization Remarks: «Had They Said This During Campaigns, They Wouldn’t Be in Power»

Original article: Diputado Cristián Tapia emplazó a senador republicano Arturo Squella por llamado a privatizar Codelco: «Si esto lo hubieran dicho en campaña, hoy no serían gobierno»

Independent Deputy Cristián Tapia labeled as «regrettable» the recent statements made by Senator and President of the Republican Party, Arturo Squella, who urged the Kast government to move forward with the privatization of Codelco «or at least part of its ownership» to «bring in private investment to that company,» Squella stated.

In response, Deputy Tapia remarked, «I must remind Mr. Squella that Codelco belongs to all Chileans. Codelco is state-owned: it is not the property of Republicans. If you had stated this during your campaign, you can be assured that you wouldn’t be in power today.»

«Focus on governing for all Chileans, not just for your private friends,» the Atacama legislator added.

For Tapia, «while it’s true that we haven’t seen the best results from Codelco in recent years, history shows that Codelco has been a significant contributor to the State of Chile,» thus, he asserted, «we will not allow privatization under any circumstances.»

To achieve such privatization, the legislator noted, «it must go through the National Congress via constitutional reform, and I believe the only parliamentarians who might agree are those who do not have the best interests of our country at heart.»

«In the Mining Commission of the Chamber, all 13 parliamentarians previously stated that Codelco should not be privatized. We have listened to Minister of Mining Daniel Mas, and we have heard from the president of Codelco, Mr. Fontaine, who states that Codelco is not for privatization,» the deputy recalled.

Given all of this, he insisted: «I advise you, Mr. Squella, to focus on working for Chile and not for your private allies. Private entities have abundant resources, and the State of Chile lacks resources,» adding that furthermore, «the workers will not allow what you are proposing.»

«I hope this is the last statement on the matter and that you remove the privatization of Codelco from your vocabulary, because we will defend it with everything we have,» concluded Deputy Cristián Tapia.

We will continue to provide updates.