SANTIAGO, Chile — On Thursday, authorities announced the arrest of a former high-ranking official in Chile’s government on allegations of rape, a situation that has sent shockwaves throughout the nation and diminished support for President Gabriel Boric’s administration.
Manuel Monsalve, 59, who served as the deputy interior minister until last month, is facing accusations of sexually assaulting a 32-year-old female colleague in a hotel following a dinner meeting in September. Monsalve has firmly denied any wrongdoing. He resigned on October 17, shortly after prosecutors disclosed that they had initiated an investigation into the allegations, which sparked a wave of public outrage and intensified scrutiny on President Boric, who has been in office since 2022 and is recognized for his commitment to a “feminist government.”
For over two and a half years, Monsalve, a trained doctor and former socialist activist, was instrumental in the government’s response to a surge in organized crime that has unsettled Chile, historically known as one of Latin America’s most secure and stable countries.
Monsalve was taken into custody at his residence in Viña del Mar and transported to the capital city of Santiago. He was escorted in handcuffs by detectives as he arrived at the police station to provide a statement.
In response to Monsalve’s arrest, President Boric, who was a witness in the case last week, addressed the matter on social media without mentioning Monsalve directly, asserting, “In Chile, no one is above the law.”
This incident poses a significant setback for Boric, whose approval ratings have already been faltering, particularly after right-wing parties made gains against his leftist coalition in regional elections last month, which are viewed as a critical indicator for the upcoming presidential election in 2025.
The administration has faced criticism for its management of the situation, notably for Boric’s delayed decision to dismiss Monsalve, which came two days after the allegations were made public. His later news conference drew backlash when he revealed that Monsalve had requested to review hotel CCTV footage even before the formal complaint was filed.
Additionally, prosecutors have alleged that while still holding his position, Monsalve attempted to utilize police resources to conduct a covert investigation and allegedly made contact with individuals close to the victim, who had previously worked under him in the Interior Ministry. His legal team has refuted these claims.
Interior Minister Carolina Tohá, who has ambitions in politics and whose credibility has also been affected by the accusations against her subordinate, vowed that the ongoing investigation would ensure justice is served.
“Only in this way can we provide answers to the victims, restore social trust, and reaffirm the rule of law,” she stated.