Latin America mourns the death of Sebastián Piñera: “He was committed to the values ​​of freedom”

The former president of Chile, Sebastián Piñera, who governed the South American country twice (2010-2014 and 2018-2022), died this Tuesday at the age of 74 after suffering a helicopter accident in Lake Ranco, an area located about 920 kilometers south of Santiago. The death has caused an impact among local political leaders and several figures in Latin America.

The first reaction to the death of the former leader of the Chilean center-right has come from the former president of Colombia Iván Duque (2014-2018), with whom he shared a political affinity that made him one of his main partners in the region. “I feel the greatest pain for the death of my great friend and colleague Sebastián Piñera. A unique leader, an upright human being and a friend like few others who always supported Colombia. My solidarity with his entire family. Dear Sebastián, you will always be in our memory and we will defend your legacy,” Duque wrote on his X account (formerly Twitter).

Another former ruler who mourned Piñera's death was the former president of Argentina Mauricio Macri (2015-2019). The representatives of the right of their respective countries cultivated a relationship of friendship and an almost parallel career, with forays into the business world, soccer—the Argentine was a director of Boca Juniors and the Chilean participated in the ownership of Colo Colo—and politics. “Immense sadness for the death of my dear friend Sebastián Piñera. Good people, committed like no one else to Chile and to the values ​​of freedom and democracy in Latin America. It really is a total loss, irreplaceable. Today I say goodbye to a friend and a notable leader. All my love for his family,” Macri wrote.

The expressions of regret also reached one of Macri's main rivals, the former Argentine president Cristina Fernández (2007-2015), who recalled that the Chilean participated in the celebrations of Argentina's Bicentennial. “As everyone knows, we did not have the same ideas, but we were always united by a relationship of great respect: he was a right-wing but deeply democratic man. I fondly remember his sense of humor and the warmth of his family, whom I met in Chile. “All my condolences to them,” he said.

The former president of Bolivia, Evo Morales (2006-2019), has also reacted to the death of Piñera. The former left-wing president had a distant relationship with his Chilean counterpart, both due to their political differences and the maritime lawsuit filed before the United Nations International Court of Justice (ICJ). “I was in numerous international meetings with him and, although we did not agree ideologically, we worked side by side on several issues. My condolences to his loved ones and to the Chilean people,” he expressed.

From Spain, former Head of Government Mariano Rajoy (2011-2018) has highlighted Piñera as a politician who loved his country. “He was a great defender and friend of Spain. I have been able to verify it. A big hug to his family,” said the former leader of the Popular Party (PP).

“Together we made COP25 possible”

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, has expressed his dismay at the death of former President Piñera. The socialist recalled the organization of COP25, a summit that was supposed to be held in Chile in 2019 but was moved to Madrid due to the social outbreak. “My condolences to his family and friends, as well as to the Government and all the Chilean people,” he published.

The ruler of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, wrote a message lamenting Piñera's death. “We join the mourning that the people of Chile are overcome by the unfortunate death of former president Sebastián Piñera. From Venezuela we extend our sincere words of support and solidarity, wishing strength to all his family and friends. Peace to his soul! “He wrote in his X account. The former Chilean president was a staunch opponent of the Chavista regime and in 2019 he traveled to the Colombian city of Cúcuta, which borders Venezuelan lands, to demand the departure of the. The former ruler's trip caused controversy, after the left-wing opposition accused him of encouraging the migration of Venezuelans to Chile. Piñera flatly rejected these versions.

The president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, acknowledged that he was “surprised” and sad” with the news. “We live together, we work to strengthen the relationship between our countries and we always had a good dialogue, when we were both presidents and also when we were not. Very sad that he passed away so abruptly. My deepest condolences to Piñera's family and friends for this loss,” he said.

In Argentina, the communications office of President Javier Milei has sent condolences to Chile. The Foreign Ministry of the South American country has said that the late former Chilean president “was an outstanding architect and promoter of the strategic relationship between our countries as well as a defender of the historical values ​​of friendship and solidarity shared between both peoples.”

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Alicia Bárcena, also joined the expressions of regret for the death of the former president. The diplomat had been ambassador to Chile until June 2023, when President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appointed her as foreign minister.

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