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Who advises ministers and undersecretaries in Chile? An analysis of the support staffs during the Government of President Gabriel Boric Font (2022-2025)

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Abstract

Public administration in Chile has generated a segment of public servants who occupy a space close to power and authority perceiving incomes equivalents to theirs, some of them exempt from administrative responsibility, and who are designated based on political trust, promoting an "hybrid zone" between political and technical spheres, situated within the staff of ministers and undersecretarial offices. Nevertheless, this specific area remains largely understudied. Consequently, this analysis undertakes an exploratory and descriptive examination of the configuration of these teams within President Boric's administration. The findings suggests that these bodies are complex, highly diverse, and execute a range of varied and deeply specialized functions.

Keywords:

political staff , executive offices , politics-administration , politicization

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