The Segundo Piso of La Moneda (Spanish for "Second Floor of La Moneda") is the name commonly used in Chile for the group of senior strategic advisers closest to the President of Chile, operating from the Palacio de La Moneda. The term refers both to the physical space on the second floor of the presidential palace and to the political and technical advisory team responsible for government strategy, presidential communications, policy coordination and monitoring.
Although it has no specific formal status under Chilean law, the Segundo Piso has been regarded as a central component of the country's centre of government, a concept used by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to describe the bodies that provide direct support to the head of the executive branch.
History Presidential advisory functions have long existed in Chilean governments, although studies generally trace the institutional consolidation of the Segundo Piso to the administrations of the Concertación, particularly the presidency of Ricardo Lagos.
During this period, a multidisciplinary team of advisers close to the president developed partly outside traditional party structures and focused on the strategic coordination of government. Subsequent Chilean presidents maintained comparable advisory structures, although their degree of influence and public visibility varied.
The term became increasingly prominent in media coverage during the administrations of Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, Gabriel Boric and José Antonio Kast, particularly because of the political role of senior advisers and debates over their informal influence on presidential decision-making.
Functions Functions commonly attributed to the Segundo Piso include:
advising the president on political and strategic matters; coordinating relations between government ministries and the presidency; monitoring implementation of the government's programme; developing communications strategies; managing political and media crises; and monitoring government performance.
Academic literature associates the Segundo Piso with the concept of the centre of government, understood as the group of bodies responsible for ensuring coherence between the president's programme and the actions of the state.
Characteristics One of the defining characteristics of the Segundo Piso is its informal nature. Its members are generally appointed on the basis of the president's personal and political confidence, rather than through a specific statutory framework defining their functions. Commentators have argued that this can create issues of transparency and accountability, as presidential advisers do not bear direct political responsibility before the National Congress of Chile.
The Segundo Piso has consequently been described as a form of informal political power or a "shadow cabinet", reflecting the influence advisers may exercise over strategic decisions without themselves being cabinet ministers.
Political influence The Segundo Piso has played an influential role during periods of political crisis, particularly during episodes involving social unrest, cabinet reshuffles and communications controversies.
During the 2019–2020 Chilean protests, media reports and political analysis highlighted the involvement of advisers from the Segundo Piso in shaping the strategy of the administration of Sebastián Piñera.
The institution again drew public attention during the administration of Gabriel Boric, owing to the role played by advisers close to the president.
Criticism Criticism of the Segundo Piso has generally focused on its limited institutional regulation, the concentration of influence in unelected advisers, a lack of transparency in decision-making, and the absence of direct parliamentary oversight.
Some analyses have also associated the prominence of such advisory structures with the strong presidential character of Chile's political system.
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