Chile's Housing Minister Iván Poduje engaged in a heated shouting match with deputies Antonio Rivas (PS) and Álvaro Ortiz (DC) at a Biobío meeting on Sunday night. The session aimed to discuss stalled works by Tapusa company but ended in mutual accusations. The DC party filed a formal complaint with the government.
The meeting occurred on the night of Sunday, May 3, in Biobío, called to address the halt of works by Tapusa company on projects including Eje Colón and Puente Perales in Talcahuano and Puente Esmeralda in Concepción. According to attendees cited by La Tercera, tensions rose when Senator Enrique van Rysselberghe shared a press clipping where Deputy Rivas referenced a claimed $6 billion debt owed to Tapusa by Serviu, as stated by the company's manager.
Minister Poduje rebuked Rivas for the claims, denying any Minvu debt and implying company interests, leading to shouting. "You're not my boss!", Rivas shouted at Poduje, who demanded evidence on the debt. Witnesses described Poduje as aggressive, physically advancing.
Álvaro Ortiz, DC party president, tried to calm things but Poduje scolded him for missing prior meetings and raised his voice, saying he did not know him. Senator Gastón Saavedra (PS) likened it to a TV show: “It was like being on ‘Sin Filtros’. It just lacked a host”.
On Monday, Ortiz said Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado and Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz apologized on behalf of the government after the DC's formal complaint. Poduje denied tensions: “I did not attribute any link. No disrespect, that's false”. This adds to Poduje's prior clashes, including with his Finance counterpart.
