Chilean President Gabriel Boric has denied allegations of sexual harassment stemming from a complaint filed against him over an incident alleged to have occurred in 2013. Boric’s lawyer, Jonatan Valenzuela, issued a statement on Monday categorically rejecting the claims.
The complaint, lodged on September 6 with the prosecutor’s office in Magallanes, Boric’s home region, accuses the president of inappropriate behaviour towards a woman over a decade ago. According to Valenzuela, the woman sent Boric 25 unsolicited emails during that time, including some containing explicit images.
The prosecutor leading the investigation, Cristian Crisosto, confirmed the existence of a criminal case and said a special team is handling the matter.
Boric, now 38, was 27 at the time of the alleged incident and had just completed his law degree. His lawyer stated that Boric had no emotional relationship or friendship with the accuser and that they ceased communication in 2014.
This accusation comes as Boric’s administration faces another controversy involving former crime czar and ex-deputy interior minister Manuel Monsalve, who was recently arrested on suspicion of raping a subordinate.
Boric, who is barred from seeking re-election when his term ends in 2026, has presidential immunity. Any formal investigation would require impeachment proceedings by the judiciary.
