COLUMN | Chile Must Always Come First

Chileans should have no doubt that their leaders prioritize the country, as when this does not happen, institutions weaken, favoritism takes center stage, and the one who suffers is none other than the rule of law.

The public debate regarding the Monsalve case has focused on the political implications of the matter, the coherence of the President’s statements, the role of Carolina Tohá, and the long list of advisors who were aware of the issue and did not report it. However, there is a reflection that cannot be overlooked, which concerns the impact this situation has on the State and the trust that citizens have in it.

Working in the State goes far beyond the specific functions that these individuals must fulfill. Commitment to the institution, contribution to the entire country, and the ethics that such officials must uphold are fundamental matters. Public officials, whether trusted or civil servants, are not independent entities; rather, they form a collective that enables the realization of that abstraction defined by theory as the State.

The person who receives documentation at the office, the one who generates analyses for decision-making, or the one who assists Chileans in any Civil Registry office makes visible that theoretical abstraction that comes to life with the Social Contract and, in that context, a chain of irregular decisions like those observed recently has no place.

Misunderstood loyalties and abuse of power only serve to undermine citizens’ trust that the State will take charge of security, development, and well-being. This is something for which it is currently failing.

The mere fact that we spend time reviewing the behavior and statements of officials close to the former authority in relation to the abuse case under investigation indicates that this ethics of public officials that I wrote about just over a year ago in this same medium has been violated.

The commitment to the country seems to be nonexistent, and rather than working for Chile, they work for a friend, relative, or acquaintance. Today, the government accuses the opposition of promoting the idea of a pact of silence, but the essence of the matter is much more than that. The core issue is that the political leaders governing Chile, along with their advisors, have been embroiled in a constant questioning of how they handled the case, generating the impression that they have prioritized individuals over the country. That is the underlying problem: Chileans should have no doubt that their leaders put the country first, as when this does not happen, institutions weaken, favoritism takes center stage, and the one who suffers is none other than the rule of law.

The greatest lesson from the Monsalve case is that when Chile is not prioritized, the State hangs by a thread, and recovering it seems to become an uphill task. When one is a public official, whether trusted or not, institutional integrity must always come first. It is the institutions that must be protected, and each individual must take responsibility for personal failings. As long as Chile is not prioritized, the government will continue to fail its citizens.