Former senator Pablo Longueira made his first public appearance after being acquitted in the SQM case, supporting UDI deputy candidate Carlos Ward. The court cleared him of all charges related to alleged corruption and illegal political financing between 2008 and 2015. Longueira expressed his joy and urged support for Ward in a future right-wing government.
The Third Oral Criminal Trial Court in Santiago acquitted Pablo Longueira of all charges in the SQM case, an investigation into alleged corruption and illegal political financing spanning 2008 to 2015. The ruling involved prominent politicians and former SQM executives but cleared the former senator of accusations from the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Internal Revenue Service.
Following the acquittal, Longueira hit the campaign trail to support UDI deputy candidate Carlos Ward in his first public appearance since the verdict. In a video shared during the day, Longueira stated: “Dear friends, I am Pablo Longueira, with enormous joy after having triumphed in this battle. I want to thank you for the expressions of affection, but I ask you for a special favor. I am with a friend with whom we fought great battles”.
The former parliamentarian emphasized his support for Ward, calling him “this tremendous deputy that the future right-wing government needs”. For his part, Ward thanked the gesture and described Longueira as “a reference who marked politics with conviction, work, and closeness to the people”. He added: “For years we have shared the same way of understanding public service: being on the street, with the community, listening and acting. Because that is the politics that transforms, that leaves a mark and builds real opportunities for those who want to progress”.
Longueira's return to the political scene comes amid Chile's elections, where the UDI aims to bolster its presence. The former UDI president, who had been sidelined by the legal process, now activates to back his party colleagues.