Chilean President Sebastian Pinera impeached

Highlights:

• President of Chile, Sebastian Pinera, was impeached on November 9, 2021 by the lower house of Chile’s congress, due to allegations regarding Pandora Papers.
• This impeachment has set a trial in the Chile’s Senate on whether to remove him because of allegations that he favoured the sale of family property while being in office.
• Trial received the bare minimum of 78 votes in favour in the 155-member Chamber of Deputies.
• Sixty-seven legislators, including members of the opposition, have voted against the constitutional accusation.
• Chilean President have been accused after publication of Pandora Papers, that revealed offshore financial dealings of prominent figures across the world including Sebastian Pinera.

• Leaked documents revealed that one of his sons used offshore companies in British Virgin Islands to sale Dominga mining project, which is co-owned by his family.
• When case was being investigated, Pinera denied his involved in managing the companies and his connection with Dominga.
• President’s office further noted that, Pinera’s first term as president in between 2010-2014, hadn’t started when the sale of Dominga mining project was agreed to.
• Pinera’s holdings are now managed in a blind trust.
• However, the case is being investigated once again by national prosecutor’s office.
• It is noted that Chile is located in western South America ,occupies a long, narrow strip of land in between Andes and Pacific Ocean. 
• It is the southernmost country of the world, located near Antarctica.