President José Antonio Kast held a press conference at La Moneda on Tuesday to condemn the hostile treatment of Science Minister Ximena Lincolao during her visit to the Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh). The Minister was accosted by a group of individuals during the institution's academic year inauguration, prompting a stern response from the executive branch.
Flanked by several cabinet members, including the Ministers of Security, Sports, and Education, President Kast described the incident as an "act of total irrationality." He argued that universities should serve as forums for dialogue and truth, not intimidation.
“What we saw today is an act of total irrationality, unfortunately inside a university, a place where dialogue, respect, and the search for truth should prevail,” Kast stated. He specifically denounced those who called for violence against the Minister, stating they “do not even deserve to be called students.”
Demanding accountability
The President rejected any attempt to justify or qualify the violence. He criticized those who offer solidarity while simultaneously attempting to contextualize the aggression with conditional language.
Kast instructed the Minister of Education, María Paz Arzola, to demand that university authorities launch formal administrative investigations into the students involved. The President emphasized that these individuals should face the consequences of their actions.
“I have asked the Minister of Education to request that the university authorities follow through with all inquiries and necessary investigations so that those who attacked the Minister do not go unpunished,” Kast said. He noted that the Ministry of Security, led by Trinidad Steiner, is already preparing legal complaints to ensure the perpetrators are identified and prosecuted.
During his address, the President praised Minister Lincolao’s career and character. He highlighted her personal history of overcoming challenges before returning to Chile to serve in the government.
“You are a source of pride for Chile,” Kast told the Minister. “A woman who overcame every obstacle one could imagine, who had everything ahead of her in the United States, and decided to come and serve her country.”
Kast called on the university community and the public to reject such behavior, characterizing the incident as a necessary turning point for the nation. He urged the students at the campus to hold their peers accountable, noting that the incident should be a source of shame for the institution.
