Chile’s foreign ministry on Tuesday announced the “voluntary resignation” of Chile’s ambassador to Britain, Susana Herrera, who has served 10 months. The resignation came after Herrera became involved in an illegal project to raise five million dollars in public and private funds for the restoration of fire-affected land in the Biobío region in southern Chile. The project, called Living Lab Biobío, was designed by Herrera in collaboration with marine biologist Alberto Fuentes Larenas and caught the attention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs because ambassadors tend to propagate organizational initiatives, not create them.

The ambassador submitted his resignation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and it was accepted, according to an official statement. The Foreign Office thanked him for his work and assured that the mission in the UK would continue to operate normally under the direction of the charge d’affaires.

The Herrera project involves restoring fire-affected land using the concept of a “circular bioeconomy and timber infrastructure”. Although his intentions were laudable, the ambassador did not follow regular procedures or notify his superiors at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, causing concern.

This incident was revealed through a report in the Chilean newspaper La Tercera. The reports set off a chain reaction that culminated in Herrera’s resignation after 48 hours. The project also attracted attention due to Herrera’s lack of diplomatic experience and lack of training in international relations.

Political earthquake in Chile

Herrera’s case comes at the center of the Convenios case, a corruption scheme that involved diverting public funds to foundations linked to the Broad Front, a political coalition in Chile. Herrera’s resignation was deemed unsustainable given this case.

Herrera, who had been questioned for his lack of experience and training for an ambassadorial position, had presented the project without approval and had asked the governor of the region for funding directly, bypassing the regular Ministry of Foreign Affairs channels.

Herrera’s resignation caused a mixed reaction in Chilean politics, including pressure from the ruling party. Despite Herrera’s personal defense of the allegations, the controversy surrounding his handling of the project was too great for his tenure.

In a statement, the Chilean Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked Herrera for his hard work and emphasized that the diplomatic mission in the UK will continue to operate in accordance with applicable regulations. @mundiario

Read more