PRESIDENT Michelle Bachelet issued an urgent call to Chile’s congress on Wednesday, seeking backing for anti-corruption measures and a national dialogue to deliver a new constitution.

She asked congress members to fast-track the measures to fight corruption after announcing that businesses will no longer be able to contribute to political parties, which will now be state-financed.

The measure, Ms Bachelet said, is “important to help end bad practices of clientelism and influence-peddling, while it allows a greater oversight than has been carried out by previous authorities.”

Chile’s corruption is among the lowest in South America, but trust in politicians and the business elite has been hit by a bank loan scandal involving the president’s son and a campaign-funding scandal involving right-wing politicians and a top financial company.