The Ibero-American Secretary General, Andres Allamanddefined Sebastian Piñera as «an extraordinary man» and said that the former president died this Tuesday in a helicopter accident «He will go down as one of the main figures in the history of our country.»

«It is heartbreaking to find out and try to understand Sebastián’s death. For reasons of my position, I was flying to a summit in Quito, Ecuador and when I landed I read the thousands of messages from many of you. It is one of those news that is difficult to believe and that makes you «they shake when they know that they are true,» said Piñera’s former foreign minister during his second administration and a member of the famous «youth patrol» of the right alongside the former Head of State.

The current head of the Ibero-American General Secretariat stated that «On a private level he always professed an immense love for Cecilia, his children and his family, and he was also an unconditional friend of his friends. When circumstances were adverse he was always present. Sebastián adored life, had a tireless curiosity, was a voracious reader and was passionate about history like no one else. He stood out as a genuine expert, down to the details, of the Pacific War.»

Furthermore, Allamand highlighted «his superior intelligence» at which «he added affection for everyone he interacted with.»

«He had a devotion to training young people and was a born organizer of human teams. On the public level he was a brilliant academic, a visionary businessman, an outstanding parliamentarian and a great president of the Republic. Without a doubt, he will become one of the main figures in the history of our country. He had a versatile personality, but the common thread of his life was public service,» he added.

Finally, he announced that in the next few hours he will arrive in Chile to «Together we say goodbye to him as he deserves.»

«Sebastián deeply loved Chile and his greatest honor was to serve his country twice, a task to which he dedicated all his energy and talents. His departure is, without a doubt, an immense loss for Chile; but, with his legacy, we will always will be present,» he concluded.

The Government of Gabriel Boric decreed a three-day national mourning and the organization of state funerals in honor of the former president.