Chilean Finance Minister Alleges $10.5 Billion Error in Previous Government's Debt Projections

Finance

Chile

Chile's Minister of Finance, Jorge Quiroz, has reported a $10.5 billion discrepancy in public debt projections for 2026–2030, which were prepared by the previous administration under former minister Nicolás Grau.

Key points

  • The error, identified in the first 2026 Public Finance Report, suggests public debt could exceed the 45% of GDP threshold by 2028.
  • The government has launched an investigation to determine if the accounting discrepancy was an error or intentional.
  • The report also revised the 2026 fiscal deficit projection from -1.9% to -2.4% of GDP due to lower-than-expected tax compliance revenue.
  • The Autonomous Fiscal Council (CFA) has validated the findings regarding the debt calculation.

Why it matters

The discovery of a significant accounting error in long-term debt projections impacts Chile's fiscal credibility and future budgetary planning under the current administration.

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