UDI Parody of Education Minister Cataldo Triggers Political Back-and-Forth in Chile

Chile’s opposition party Unión Demócrata Independiente released a parody video depicting Education Minister Nicolás Cataldo as more concerned with organising the presidential campaign of government candidate Jeannette Jara than with his ministerial duties. The clip shows an actor portraying Cataldo in an office filled with Jara posters while ignoring questions about poor student test scores. Cataldo denounced the production as “bullying”, urged the party to remove it and invited UDI to “correct its bad actions”. Paula Daza, programme chief for opposition contender Evelyn Matthei, said she would not comment on the video’s content but called for “more positive” campaigning, adding that the parody nonetheless underscored shortcomings in the education portfolio. In a separate set of remarks, Daza praised Matthei’s performance at this week’s Salmón Summit debate and detailed a health proposal that pledges to eliminate the GES cancer waiting list within a year and declare an oncological health alert if Matthei wins November’s election.