Chile decentralisation will face obstacles and delays
Subject Subnational governments and decentralisation. Significance In mid-February, the central government announced the transfer of some of its functions to a new structure of regional government that will begin to take definitive shape next year when regional governors are elected for the first time. There is broad recognition across the political spectrum of the relationship between decentralisation, regional and local development, productivity and, ultimately, economic diversification from the country’s dependence on a handful of natural resources. Impacts Senators, in particular, are wary of the election of regional governors since they will share the same constituency. Without adequate resources and powers, elected governors risk becoming merely a sound box for regional demands. Further legislation will almost certainly be required to clarify some of the provisions of the 2017 laws.