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Chilean Energy Ministry Embroiled in Controversy Over Singer’s Political Performance and Spending
The Chilean Ministry of Energy is facing mounting scrutiny, not only for recent billing errors that led to the removal of Minister Diego pardow – who is expected to face constitutional accusations – but also for a resurfaced incident involving a politically charged performance by singer Camila Moreno at an official ministry event. The timing of the revelation, just before a crucial presidential election, has amplified the controversy.
Did you know?– Singer Camila Moreno altered lyrics during a 2022 Ministry of Energy event, referencing former President Sebastián Piñera and Republican Party candidate José Antonio Kast. The performance, broadcast on social media, sparked controversy.
The incident occurred on June 16, 2022, during a celebration of the creation of the Gender and Human Rights Office of the Ministry of Energy at the Moneda Bicentenario Building. Moreno, invited to close the event, performed a 12-minute set with her guitar before an audience including then-Minister of Energy Claudio Huepet, Minister of Women Antonia Orellana, parliamentarians, and industry executives.
Pro tip:– The Ministry of energy removed the video of Moreno’s performance from its YouTube channel after inquiries. However, El Líbero secured a copy of the controversial segment, which included altered lyrics.
During her performance of the song “This Electricity,” Moreno deviated from the original lyrics, singing, “Let Kast and Piñera be over. We are going to burn the kingdom. Yes, I approve, my love.” This altered chorus directly referenced former President sebastián Piñera, current Republican Party candidate José Antonio Kast, and voiced support for the “Approval” option in the constitutional plebiscite. The performance, broadcast on the ministry’s social media channels, reportedly caused discomfort among some attendees.
Reader question:– What was the reaction to Moreno’s performance? Some attendees were reportedly uncomfortable. The ministry removed the video, but El Líbero obtained a copy of the performance.
When questioned by El Líbero regarding potential payment for the performance, the Ministry of Energy stated the June 16th event was financed through resources from the Energy Sustainability Agency. Following the inquiry, the ministry removed the video of the event from its YouTube channel, though El Líbero secured a copy of the controversial segment.
This is not the first time Moreno’s performances have sparked political debate. Approximately six months prior, on December 15, 2021, during a campaign event for then-candidate Gabriel Boric, she similarly modified the lyrics of the same song, singing, “Let Kast and Piñera die. We are going to burn the kingdom. Yes, I vote Boric my love.” The earlier performance ignited widespread criticism, prompting a response from Kast, who condemned any calls for violence or harm to political figures.
Boric’s then-spokesperson, Izkia Siches, initially downplayed the controversy, characterizing it as “part of the expressions of art,” suggesting that those who didn’t support the candidate may not understand artistic expression.kast countered that advocating for the death of a candidate was not an artistic expression, and Santiago Mayor Mario Desbordes labeled Siches’ clarification as reflecting “true fascism.” Ultimately, Boric himself distanced himself from Moreno’s lyrics, stating his commitment to a path of peace and denouncing any wish for harm, nonetheless of political differences.
adding to the ministry’s woes, the gender and Human rights Office itself is under fire for its spending. In August of this year, representative Paula Labra requested clarification from then-Minister Pardow regarding nearly $4 billion in expenditures by the office since its creation in 2022. Labra expressed concern over the office’s existence within a sectoral ministry and highlighted spending of over $644 million on consumer goods and services, alongside $3,344 million in transfers during 20
