Government activates “silver bullets” and excludes seven key positions from ADP system

President José Antonio Kast's government has formalized decrees excluding seven strategic positions from the High Public Management (ADP) system, allowing direct appointments. The measures, published in the Official Gazette, impact services such as Fonasa, Conadi, and the Labor Directorate.

The Chilean government, led by President José Antonio Kast, has activated the so-called “silver bullets”, a tool under Law N° 19.882 regulating the High Public Management (ADP) system. It allows the Executive to directly appoint up to 12 service heads at the start of the term, bypassing public competitions, to expedite placements in key areas during the early months. Decrees formalized by the Ministry of Finance in the Official Gazette exclude from ADP the positions of national director of the National Migration Service, Labor Director, director of the National Indigenous Development Corporation (Conadi), director of the National Health Fund (Fonasa), executive director of the Environmental Assessment Service (SEA), fiscal of the Ministry of Public Works (MOP), and Health Superintendent. Confirmed appointments include Jorge Trujillo at the Internal Revenue Service (SII), David Oddó at the Labor Directorate, and Frank Sauerbaum at the National Migration Service. These roles are key for economic reforms in taxation and labor oversight. The action occurs amid political tensions, with union and opposition criticism over budget cuts, suspensions of labor initiatives, and reviews of environmental and indigenous policies. The President can also request resignations from other executives, appointing proxies pending competitions.

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