Kast’s European Trip: $8.8M State Expense & “Enjoyment of Pay
Summary of the Controversy Surrounding José Antonio kasts 2015 Trip
This article details criticism leveled against José Antonio Kast regarding a family trip he took to Europe in the middle of his parliamentary term in 2015. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
* The Trip: Kast and a large portion of his family traveled to France (including a visit to the Louvre),Spain,Germany,and England.
* Constitutional Permission & Absence: He requested and received constitutional permission to travel to Germany with full pay from July 9th to August 6th, resulting in his absence from 10 congressional sessions.
* Questionable Timing: While constitutional permission is common, it’s usually used during the legislative recess (January/February). Kast’s trip occurred during active sessions.
* Potential Irregularity: Kast requested the permit on the same day he attended a congressional session, potentially rendering the permit invalid according to Article 37 of the house regulations.
* Missed Votes: During his absence, crucial topics were debated and voted on, including:
* Neuroderechos (Neuro-rights)
* Security in schools in La Araucanía
* Modification of the Teaching Statute
* Defense: Kast claimed the trip was covered by the constitutional permit and that per diem discounts would be applied for missed sessions.
* initial Criticism: The trip was initially brought to light by Jorge Condeza, and later highlighted by current Minister General Secretary of Government, Camila Vallejo, who criticized Kast’s overall lack of “relevant” work during his time in Congress.
in essence, the controversy centers around whether Kast appropriately utilized his constitutional permission to travel, and whether his absence from Congress during critically important votes was justified.The article suggests a potential violation of House regulations and highlights the issues he missed while abroad.