Boric Defends Nicolás Grau as New Chile Finance Minister

President Gabriel Boric defended his decision to appoint former Economy Minister Nicolás Grau to lead Chile’s Ministry of Finance after the surprise departure of Mario Marcel. "I am not here to keep the right happy; I am here to ensure the ministry works," Boric told reporters on Friday, praising Grau’s “tremendous capacity for dialogue.” The president said Grau’s record in the Economy Ministry—including shepherding the complex sectoral permits law—demonstrates the technical skill and consensus-building ability needed at Hacienda. Boric added that criticism from right-wing legislators was expected, noting they had similarly opposed Marcel during his three-year tenure. Boric stressed that Grau will maintain the fiscal-responsibility framework established under Marcel while prioritizing economic recovery and job creation. Speaking separately, Grau said cooperation with lawmakers across the political spectrum would remain central to advancing the government’s budget and other economic legislation.