Event Summary
The Chilean government requested the immediate resignation of the Superintendent of Higher Education, José Miguel Salazar, amidst a sanctioning process against the private university “San Sebastián” (USS). The decision, communicated on 19 March 2026, was justified by a “loss of confidence.” However, this occurred one day after the media outlet Reportea published the findings of an investigation led by the Superintendency, which detected irregularities at USS, including improper hiring and payments to at least 15 political figures. Among them are the president of the Republican Party, Arturo Squella, and the former Minister of Education during Sebastián Piñera’s presidency, Marcela Cubillos.
This event is part of a pattern of tensions between the executive branch and oversight bodies. The resignation of the Superintendent of School Education was also requested, albeit under different conditions. The immediacy of the measure following the publication of the investigation suggests a direct response to the inquiry. This indicates a pattern of interference when oversight affects high-level political actors.