Chilean copper workers from Chuquicamata, the world’s largest open-pit mine, have called for a rally on August 10 in front of the Santiago headquarters of National Copper Corporation (Codelco) to defend the state-owned giant against a privatization push by the ruling far-right Republican Party.
The demonstration, timed for Miner’s Day, is directed at Arturo Squella, president of the Republican Party, who has proposed advancing the full or partial privatisation of the corporation.
Codelco was created after copper nationalization was unanimously approved in 1971 under the government of Salvador Allende.
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The union stressed that workers and Chileans cannot remain “still” amid what it described as a privatizing offensive by the government, political parties, and business sectors. It also argued that the corporation has proven its worth over 55 years, having contributed more than $165 billion toward the construction of hospitals and schools, as well as guaranteeing dignified education and pensions.
The Republican proposal has triggered one of the broadest rejections since President José Antonio Kast took office. The Socialist Party, in a statement titled “Codelco is not for sale,” rejected the initiative and accused the government of advancing a covert privatization, while the Broad Front labelled the idea a risk to a strategic asset of the Chilean State.
Vengo a cobrarle la palabra al ministro Quiroz. El 10 de junio le pregunté a él mismo si el Gobierno pretendía vender Codelco. Su respuesta fue categórica: “En ningún caso y cóbrenme la palabra”.
Sin embargo hoy el partido del Presidente Kast instala esa posibilidad sin pudor.… https://t.co/lT3YHEBAZ0
— Danisa Astudillo (@AstudilloDanisa) July 29, 2026
On the other hand, Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz stated that the Government does not plan to privatize the corporation, though he left the door open for the company to receive private capital to address its financial situation.
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