Eleven opposition deputies filed a constitutional accusation against former Energy Minister Diego Pardow on Monday over negligences in electricity tariff calculations that led to excessive billing. The document seeks to disqualify him for five years and criticizes breaches of administrative probity under Article 8 of the Constitution. Meanwhile, a debate emerges over the legal support the government plans to provide to Pardow.
On Monday, October 27, 2025, in the UDI bloc's office at the Chamber of Deputies, opposition legal teams finalized and filed the constitutional accusation against Diego Pardow, who resigned after errors in electricity bills were revealed in October 2024. The tariff decree signed by Pardow in January 2024 doubled inflationary effects, impacting consumers. The 40-page document includes two chapters: the first, drafted by Renovación Nacional, accuses negligence in administrative probity and lack of efficiency; the second, from the UDI, reproaches omissions and lack of transparency after Transelec's notification, stating that “the former minister never disclosed this situation, and then maintained an apparent passive and negligent attitude in seeking solutions”.
Eleven deputies signed: Pamela Jiles (PDG), Frank Sauerbaum, Carla Morales and Eduardo Durán (RN), Henry Leal, Juan Manuel Fuenzalida and Juan Antonio Coloma (UDI), Francisco Undurraga (Evópoli), Juan Irarrázaval and Cristián Araya (Republicanos), and Jorge Saffirio (Demócratas). Sauerbaum urged officialists to “vote for this constitutional accusation and study it properly without making a corporate defense”. Leal accused Pardow of “hiding information from Chileans, he was negligent in signing the tariff decree”. Undurraga noted it reveals “a way of governing by President Boric and his ministers, which is the government of the caught”. Jiles stressed that signing is “a constitutional obligation in the face of the undeniable faults”.
After filing, the reviewing commission was drawn: Carmen Hertz (PC), Sergio Bobadilla (UDI), Mauro González (RN), Jaime Mulet (FRVS) and Ericka Ñanco (FA), with an officialist majority. The process may extend beyond the November 16 elections. This is the ninth accusation against Boric government officials, tying the Piñera era record.
The government decided to provide legal support to Pardow, as the facts occurred during his tenure. Minister Macarena Lobos confirmed that “the Executive will be present to take charge of it. Because this is not a personal issue, it is an institutional one”. PS Senator Juan Luis Castro backed: “The Executive can help in the defense when the accusation is for actions in the ministerial role”. However, the UDI, led by Leal, will appeal to the Comptroller, arguing that “it is not appropriate to use resources from all Chileans to pay for legal defense of a person who is no longer a public official”. Officialist deputies like Jaime Araya (indep. PPD) and Eric Aedo (DC) recommended distance to avoid controversies.