Chile impeachment vote heads to Senate after lower-house approval

Jaime Naranjo, opposition deputy of the socialist party, speaks during a discussion on a constitutional accusation against President Sebastian Pinera over possible irregularities in the sale of a mining company, after details emerged about the deal in the Pandora Papers leak, at the congress in Valparaiso, Chile, November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - An impeachment process against Chilean President Sebastián Piñera over allegations of irregularities in the sale of a mining firm, will advance to the Senate after being approved by a majority of deputies in the lower chamber early on Tuesday.

After almost 22 hours of debate, the vote to proceed passed with the minimum 78 votes needed, versus 67 against and three abstentions. In the Senate it would require a higher threshold of the vote at two-thirds of the 43 senators.