Approval of Alto Santorini: record of lobbying by presidential delegate Millions records meeting with Víctor Quiroz

The official lobbying platform under Chile’s Lobby Law records a meeting held on June 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m., during which presidential delegate for Valparaíso, Manuel Millones, met with Víctor Quiroz, brother of Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz. The entry specifies that the purpose of the meeting was to present the project “Alto Santorini,” an investment initiative located in Viña del Mar. According to the record, the session lasted one hour, with Quiroz representing the real estate company Lote 21 SpA, which holds a 12% stake in the project. This information contrasts with statements made by Millones, who publicly denied having met with Quiroz after the publication of a report by CIPER Chile. Following the release of the CIPER report detailing the approval of the Alto Santorini project, participated in by Quiroz, the presidential delegate for Valparaíso, Manuel Millones, addressed Radio Valentín Letelier. He stated that he had not met with Quiroz, contradicting the official record maintained on the lobbying platform. The discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of both accounts, particularly since the platform’s data includes specific details such as the time, participants, and subject of the meeting. The meeting in question was part of broader efforts by the Ministry of Finance to expedite the approval of stalled investment projects through its “anti-permissology” initiative. This program, managed by the Subsecretariat of Finance, involves a committee tasked with monitoring investment proposals processed through the Environmental Impact Assessment System (SEIA). The outcomes of these assessments are shared with key officials, including the Undersecretaries of Economy, Environment, and Interior. One of the successful projects under this initiative was the Alto Santorini development, where Quiroz’s involvement as a shareholder has been noted. On August 20, two days after the CIPER report was published, the communications department of the Valparaíso presidential delegation sent an email to CIPER denying that Millones had met with Quiroz. In response, CIPER forwarded documentation supporting the recorded meeting via the lobbying platform. The email requested proof that the meeting had not occurred, but no reply was received. Further attempts were made on the same day and the following day, but again, there was no response. Eventually, Millones provided his version of events to the local media outlet RVL in Valparaíso, though he did not clarify whether the meeting might have been incorrectly logged in the system. Under Article 11 of Decree 71 of the Office of the President’s General Secretary, which governs meetings conducted through the Lobby Law, all meetings must be registered and made available for public scrutiny. The law requires transparency in interactions between government officials and private entities, especially when they involve matters of public interest such as large-scale infrastructure or real estate developments. The case involving Millones and Quiroz highlights potential gaps in compliance with these regulations, raising concerns over the integrity of the process. As of now, no further action has been taken regarding the alleged inconsistency in the records. However, the situation underscores the need for greater oversight and clarity in how such meetings are documented and verified. The outcome of this dispute could influence future practices related to lobbying disclosures and public accountability in Chilean governance.