Following initial backlash from president-elect José Antonio Kast's team, President Gabriel Boric's government detailed its protocol—part of the public sector adjustment bill—to protect career civil servants while ending trust positions on March 11, 2026. Ministers emphasized the measures formalize existing rules and require congressional approval.
In response to criticisms labeling the protocol a 'breach of trust,' Interior Minister Álvaro Elizalde and Finance Minister Nicolás Grau clarified the distinction between career and trust public officials during the transition to Kast's administration.
Elizalde stated at La Moneda that 'exclusive trust positions... will all cease their positions due to the change of command' on March 11, 2026, as these roles are held by individuals committed to Boric's project. He stressed the incoming president can freely appoint new trust officials.
Grau noted that most state workers predate the current government and may not align politically, justifying protections for career positions. Dismissals of career officials must be justified, appealable to the Comptroller General, per the agreement with public sector unions.
The protocol, negotiated amid the readjustment bill's 3.4% salary hike, seeks stability for public service while preserving executive flexibility. It now awaits parliamentary debate amid ongoing frictions.
