The Government of Chile has started the process to leave Unasur

The Government of Chile announced Sunday that it had sought the opinion of Congress so that Denounce the Constitutive Treaty of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), the first step to disengage from this block.

"The Government of Chile has decided to consult the National Congress to proceed with the denunciation of the constituent treaty of Unasur"said the executive in a statement.

Government sources told Efe that The consultation of the Chamber of Deputies and the Congress is part of the process provided by the Constitution, but its result is not binding.

The government of the president Sebastián Piñera claimed that Unasur is "accept it institutionally", without a general secretary since 2017 and virtually no activity in the last two years.

"In addition, it has moved away from the principles that inspired its creation and is today a highly politicized and inefficient institution", adds the statement.

The executive reminded that Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay and Ecuador also suspended their participation in Unasur and officially launched the process of denunciation of the constituent treaty and definitive abandonment of the bloc.

In addition, Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay and Peru Forum for the Progress of South America (Prosur), a space of dialogue and coordination that seeks to replace Unasur.

"Prosur is a forum open to all the democratic countries of South America, without ideologies and respectful of the diversity of each people. A pragmatic forum without excessive bureaucracy, with a firm commitment to democracy, freedom and respect for the human rights of all peoples, "said the Chilean government.

Unasur was born in 2008 as a progressive project promoted by the late Venezuelan president. Hugo Chavez and supported by other regional leaders like the former Argentine president, also deceased Néstor Kirchner, the Brazilian Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, l & # 39; Ecuadorian Rafael Correa and the sovereign again of Bolivia, Evo Morales

The only members of Unasur to remain active are Uruguay, Guyana, Bolivia, Suriname and Venezuela.

(With information from EFE)