‘Stimulate the economy’: scandal blows up after Chile minister poses with inflatable sex doll

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Chile's economy minister Luis Cespedes holds up an inflatable doll during an event of the exporters' association Asexma in Santiago on Monday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:24am, 15 Dec 2016Updated: 10:04pm, 15 Dec 2016

A prominent Chilean business leader presented the country’s economy minister with an inflatable doll on stage at an event late on Tuesday, sparking a social media storm and criticism by President Michelle Bachelet.

Exporters’ association Asexma traditionally gives humorous gifts to VIPs attending its annual dinner, but the inflated sex toy - which was handed to economy minister Luis Cespedes with the comment that it could be used to “stimulate the economy” taped to its mouth - backfired.

Photos of the event in local media showed a grinning Cespedes holding the life-sized blow-up doll on stage, alongside other ministers - all male - clutching their gifts, which included a blond wig meant to represent US President-elect Donald Trump.

“The fight for respect for women has been an essential principle in my two governments,” said Bachelet, Chile’s first female leader, on her Twitter account. “What occurred at the Asexma dinner cannot be tolerated”.

ProChile Director Roberto Paiva, from left to right, Chilean senator and ruling party presidential hopeful Alejandro Guillier, former OAS General Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza, Chile’s Economy Minister Luis Cespedes, Ministry of Planning Executive Secretary Eduardo Britan, Energy Minister Andres Rebolledo and Asimet President Juan Carlos Martinez, pose for a photo with an inflated sex toy in Santiago on Monday. Photo: AP

Her comment was retweeted more than 1,200 times, and echoed by others.

“I am an entrepreneur and union member,” tweeted small business owner Jacqueline Galvez. “This kind of situation is unacceptable.”