The political career of Chilean Senator Isabel Allende is under threat. A request by opposition parliamentarians to remove her from office is currently under consideration by the Constitutional Court (TC).
The controversy revolves around the attempted sale of her father's house, the former president Salvador Allende's home. The sale violated Article 60 of the Constitution, which prohibits senators from contracting with the State during their term.
The failed operation has already cost two ministers their jobs and triggered a criminal investigation involving Allende, her niece Maya Fernández, and President Gabriel Boric (accused of fiscal fraud).
Several legal experts and officials have presented differing viewpoints on the case, with some arguing that the senator's actions were not sufficient for removal from office. The TC is to decide based on the given facts.
The Constitutional Court will make a final decision on the matter. The Court's historical jurisprudence demonstrates a pattern of rejecting attempts to remove parliamentarians, adding uncertainty to the outcome.
The house in question holds historical significance, having been the residence of former President Salvador Allende. The government had intended to acquire it to transform it into a museum.