“Listening to the clamor of our compatriots, we are committed to reducing the salary of high-ranking authorities and trusted advisors.” to no more than 10 times the minimum wage, which we expect to be $500,000. It is a clear sign of austerity and progress in the equality that we want to build in our country”.
With those words, President Gabriel Boric made a campaign promise on November 29, three weeks before the second round that would lead him to succeed and arrive at La Moneda.
Already almost three months after arriving in government, the salaries of the authorities installed in the Presidential Palace and their advisers were published in transparency, which reflects that a dozen of them earn more than what was promised by the President.
Although the government makes it clear that their promise referred to the $500,000 pesos that they want to promote as the minimum wage for 2026 -so the idea is that no more than $5 million be earned- the truth is that since May 1 The minimum wage is $380,000 and as of August 1 it will rise to $400,000.
The Third PM reviewed the salaries of the authorities and advisers of the entities physically located in La Moneda: Presidency, Ministry of the Interior, Segpres, Segegob and the Ministry of Women. Of these, as of April this year, 81 officials earn more than $5 millionconsidering ministers, undersecretaries, division heads, cabinet chiefs and advisors under the modality of staff, contracts and fees, according to the information published in transparency.
If the calculation of those who earn more than ten times the current minimum wage (above $3,800,000) is taken, the figure rises to 220 people.
In fact, in March the government had sent a document instructing ministers not to pay their trusted advisers a salary of more than 50% of what corresponds to the gross remuneration of an undersecretary.. Under that logic, the limit was $4 million, but it could rise to $5.2 million if 15 years of experience were proven, according to the instructions.
For example, one of the highest salaries is that of the chief of staff to the deputy secretary of the interior, Manuel Monsalve (PS), the former minister Gabriel of the Source who earns $7,431,504.
For April, the chief of staff of the Minister of the Interior, Izkia Siches, the doctor Robert Estay he earned $7,495,692. The latter resigned recently..
In this way, both advisers exceeded the salary of Minister Siches ($7,012,388). Not only them, but also the heads of the Interior divisions – Camila Barros (Legal), Carolina Garrido (Public Security), Roberto Gallardo (Management and Modernization of Police), Enrique Inostroza (Interior Government), Ingrid Inda (Informatics) and José Rivas (Administration and Finance)-, earn over $7.4 million.
The same happens in Segpres, where the six division heads earn $7,417,648, above the $7 million earned by the holder of the portfolio, Giorgio Jackson (RD).
In the government they explain that this is because in 2020 the salary of parliamentarians and ministers, among other authorities, was lowered by means of a law, but that did not regulate the undersecretaries. In fact, the situation in which subordinates earn more than ministers also occurred in the Piñera government.
Currently all the undersecretaries of the political committee earn more than the ministers. ANDIn the case of division heads, salaries are fixed and non-negotiable. In the past government they also exceeded $7 million.
In Interior, other salaries that stand out are those of the head of advisers, the doctor Matthias Libuy ($5,700,000), the resigned advisor and attorney Salvador Millaleo ($5,700,000), the former candidate for constituent catherine lakes ($4,500,000) and the migration consultant, Miguel Yaksic ($4,000,000), among others.
Another Segpres adviser who earns over ten times the minimum income is Jackson’s chief of staff, the former student leader Diego Candle, who receives $6,447,907. Also there is Valeria Lubbertexecutive secretary of the public integrity and transparency commission, earning $7,213,596.
In the Segegob, led by the spokeswoman Camila Vallejothe director of Secom, Paul Walls, earn $7,044,695. That is, $30 thousand more than the minister. The Secom of former President Sebastián Piñera, René Canovas, meanwhile, had a salary of $7,846,140.
In the Ministry of Women, Javiera Hairchief of staff of the minister and close collaborator of Boric receives $4,682,850.
In Presidency there are also high salaries. Likewise, if it is considered that in that entity there are two officials from the previous government of Sebastian Pinera who continue to receive their salary for finding maternity leave, despite the fact that the government ended on March 11.
This is Piñera’s former chief of staff, Magdalena Diazwho received her salary in March and April of $6,734,502 for being with postnatal, and the advisor to the Presidency Pia Margarit ($4,705,747) who has jurisdiction.
Within Boric’s advisors, the best paid is the administrative director, Antonia Rosas ($7,202,935), who nevertheless earns less than his predecessor in office, during the Piñera government, Julio Maiers ($7.7 million).
Boric’s chief of staff, Matias Meza-Lopehandia receives $5,990,000, almost $700 thousand less than what his predecessor, Magdalena Díaz, received with Piñera.
The boss of the second floor, lucia dammertgot $5,945,159, but the former leader of advisers, Christian Larroulet he earned $7 million.
Another contrast occurred with Boric’s press officer, Tatiana Climate, which in April appears with $4,853,191. His simile of Piñera, Carla Munizagahe got $5.8 million.
In addition, other advisers to the Presidency stand out, such as the sociologist Carlos Duran ($5,459,840), who was a strategist in the presidential campaign; the communication coordinator Philip Valenzuela ($5,459,840), and the former director of Public Space, Diego Pardow ($5,450,000), who leads the programmatic monitoring area of the Second Floor.
There is also the adviser to the Presidency in international matters Carlos Figueroa ($4,140,000). His counterpart in the Piñera government, Benjamín Salas, earned $3 million.
Finally, the analyst joins Fernando Carmona ($4,000,000), son of the general secretary of the PC, and the doctor of Philosophy Luna Follegati ($4.246.542).