Ñuñoa mayor Sebastián Sichel backed Tomás Fuentes' continued role as Dideco director after Contraloría ruled the appointment illegal due to a timing issue. Sichel said a correct decree will be issued on the 15th and criticized the Frente Amplio for seeking his dismissal on moral grounds. In the same interview, he called for flexible measures against school violence.
Sebastián Sichel, mayor of Ñuñoa, defended the appointment of Tomás Fuentes as director of Desarrollo Comunitario (Dideco) on La Tercera's 'Desde la Redacción' program. Contraloría ruled the decree illegal because it was issued before completing Fuentes' 41-day suspension for a prior conviction for driving under the influence in March 2025, with 2.16 grams of alcohol per liter of blood.
"What is illegal is the date of that decree. What needs to be done now is to issue the decree on the 15th and he will be Dideco on the 15th," Sichel explained. He noted Fuentes committed the offense before becoming a public servant, was suspended, resigned as municipal administrator, and has not erred in his role. He criticized the Frente Amplio for trying to oust him over "moralina," comparing it to cases like Gabriel Boric, "caught stealing pisco."
Sichel addressed the 'Escuelas Protegidas' bill to combat school violence. He preferred it as a "toolkit" rather than mandatory measures, such as metal detectors in all Ñuñoa schools, which he called an "unnecessary expense." He supported revoking gratuidad for violent students, as it is a state benefit, not a right, and backed municipal staff handling security.
He called the Universidad Austral rector's attitude "pathetic" for negotiating with Carabineros to prevent entry during flagrant crimes, which he said fostered violence in educational facilities.
