Chilean President José Antonio Kast on Wednesday, October 21, 2026 appointed Gonzalo Arenas Hödar as the new undersecretary of the General Secretariat of Government (Segegob) and government spokesman, replacing José Francisco Lagos, according to the La Moneda statement reported by [BioBioChile](https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2026/10/21/presidente-kast-nombra-a-gonzalo-arenas-como-nuevo-vocero-de-gobierno.shtml). Arenas, a lawyer, historian and former UDI congressman for La Araucanía, arrived at the presidential palace shortly after 7:00 a.m. and was received by minister Claudio Alvarado, Cooperativa reported.
The appointment ends five months without a dedicated spokesperson: since Mara Sedini left in May, the role had been shared by Alvarado, who heads both the Interior Ministry and the Segegob, and Interior undersecretary Máximo Pavez. These are the keys to the change.
Who is Gonzalo Arenas
Gonzalo Arenas holds a law degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and a PhD in History from the Autonomous University of Madrid. According to the presidential press office, his research as a historian has focused on Diego Portales and on Chile's political and intellectual history (24 Horas).
| Position or stage | Period |
|---|---|
| Congressman for District 48 (La Araucanía), two terms | 2006-2014 |
| Special adviser on Indigenous Affairs (Sebastián Piñera's second government) | 2019-2020 |
| Adviser to the Segpres and the Interior Ministry | From 2020 |
| Dean of Law and Social Sciences, Universidad San Sebastián | June 2024 to October 2026 |
| Segegob undersecretary and government spokesman | Since October 21, 2026 |
Table sources: BioBioChile and 24 Horas. The exact years of his advisory roles under Piñera vary among secondary sources; the dates that match are his time as a congressman (2006-2014) and the deanship since June 2024. He was a member of the UDI, the party that took him to Congress; according to The Clinic, he is no longer a member.
Why Gonzalo Arenas becomes spokesman now
The change answers a complaint from the governing coalition itself: the lack of a full-time spokesperson. After Mara Sedini left on May 19, 2026 (The Clinic), the government split the role between Alvarado and Pavez, while José Francisco Lagos remained Segegob undersecretary without a spokesman role. Coalition lawmakers even proposed separating the Interior Ministry and the Segegob again, according to El Dínamo.
| Date | Milestone in the Kast government's communications |
|---|---|
| March 11, 2026 | Mara Sedini takes office as spokeswoman minister (Segegob) |
| May 19, 2026 | Sedini leaves the government |
| May to October 2026 | Role shared by Claudio Alvarado (Interior and Segegob minister) and Máximo Pavez (Interior undersecretary) |
| October 20, 2026 | The press reports Arenas's upcoming appointment |
| October 21, 2026 | La Moneda makes Arenas undersecretary and spokesman; Lagos steps down |
La Moneda did not explain why Lagos left. The statement says the former undersecretary "will keep collaborating" with the President on "various matters", without specifying his new role (24 Horas). Lagos wrote on X that it had been an honor to serve.
What changes with the new spokesman
With Arenas, the Segegob once again has a permanent face before the press, but with a different design from March: the ministry is still headed by Claudio Alvarado, who keeps the Interior portfolio, and the daily briefings fall to an undersecretary. La Tercera described the move as a "new communications design" for La Moneda (La Tercera).
| Before October 21 | Since October 21 |
|---|---|
| Briefings shared by Alvarado and Pavez | Briefings led by Gonzalo Arenas |
| Segegob undersecretary: José Francisco Lagos | Segegob undersecretary: Gonzalo Arenas |
| Segegob minister: Claudio Alvarado (dual minister) | No change: Alvarado still runs Interior and the Segegob |
The reshuffle comes at a difficult moment in the polls. The latest Cadem Plaza Pública put the president's approval at 30%, his lowest since taking office (see Kast's approval in Cadem No. 698). The government is also negotiating the 2027 budget in Congress, which must be passed by late November.
Criticism of and support for Gonzalo Arenas
The governing coalition welcomed the former congressman, while the opposition recalled episodes from his time in the Chamber. The most cited occurred in August 2009, when, during the questioning of then Interior Minister Edmundo Pérez Yoma, he threw papers at him, according to El Dínamo. Congressman Jaime Bassa (Frente Amplio) said Arenas has shown "little willingness to engage in dialogue", according to BioBioChile.
Beyond the reactions, the new spokesman's immediate challenge is to order the government's message on the issues that dominate the agenda: security, jobs and growth, with an economy the IMF expects to grow only 0.6% in 2026 (see the IMF's cut). His first official briefing was expected on Wednesday; we will update this story with his first announcements.
How much the government spokesman earns
The Segegob undersecretary receives the pay of a state undersecretary, which is lower than a minister's. As a reference, see how much a minister earns in Chile, with the 2026 scale. The exact amount is published monthly in the transparency section of the Segegob.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Chile's new government spokesman?
Gonzalo Arenas Hödar, a lawyer, PhD in History and former congressman for La Araucanía (2006-2014). He was appointed Segegob undersecretary and spokesman on October 21, 2026.
Whom does Gonzalo Arenas replace?
José Francisco Lagos as Segegob undersecretary. As spokesman, he takes over from minister Claudio Alvarado and Interior undersecretary Máximo Pavez, who had shared the role since Mara Sedini left in May.
Is Gonzalo Arenas a minister?
No. He is an undersecretary. The Segegob minister is still Claudio Alvarado, who also runs the Interior Ministry.
Why did José Francisco Lagos leave?
La Moneda did not say. It only stated that Lagos will keep collaborating with the President on various matters.
What did Gonzalo Arenas do before?
Since June 2024 he had been dean of the Law and Social Sciences school at Universidad San Sebastián.
