Minister of Science Ximena Lincolao is currently on medical leave after being assaulted yesterday by a group of students at the Austral University of Chile in the Los Ríos Region. The news was confirmed this morning by government spokesperson Mara Sedini, who explained that the cabinet member sustained various blows during the altercation.
"The Minister was struck several times; while nothing was life-threatening, it was truly a very intense situation," Sedini stated in an interview with T13 Radio. The spokesperson explained that the physical impact, combined with the day's stress and constant travel, forced the Minister to take time off to recover from the shock.
Government points to political factions
Following the incident, Minister Sedini emphasized that such acts must be condemned across the board without qualification. Echoing the rhetoric of President José Antonio Kast, the spokesperson held political groups responsible, arguing that they endorse violence through ideological discourse.
"It is clear who is calling for uprisings, who is calling for revolutions, and who has supported violent protests, barricades, and school occupations," the Minister asserted. According to Sedini, there is a direct link between the justification of violence in public spaces and these attacks against authorities.
The spokesperson maintained that certain political factions attempt to validate violence whenever it aligns with their own positions. "These are people who believe that because they disagree with something, or because they think differently, they have the right to be violent and assault others. That is unacceptable, and we will not tolerate it," she added.
Sedini drew a clear line between the right to peaceful protest and what she described as the actions of radicalized groups. "There are people who want to look good by saying they are against violence, yet they have allowed this to happen," the Minister concluded.
Regarding the security of cabinet members, the spokesperson indicated that the executive branch has not yet defined any extraordinary protocols. She explained that the assessment of potential protective measures remains in the hands of law enforcement agencies, such as the Carabineros and the Investigations Police (PDI).