Contratado a dedo
 

El ayuntamiento despide a personal que fue contratado a dedo hace una década

I can't think of an English expression for this. Presumably it means something like chosen at random or arbitrarily. Anybody?

Someone designated them to do the job without evaluating their skills nor using a standard selection/hiring staff procedure (they might have been friends, family, people who had done favours to those who hired them...)... the expression is as if they had been pointed with someone's finger and then sent to work there.

Appointed.

At least here in the US, an appointed position is given to a person who is scrutinized first.

I am not sure how it was/is in Chile. :)

Thanks, both. I guessed it was that, and knowing Tenerife, I guess they are friends and relatives of the Mayor. :rolleyes:

La leader de los estudiantes chilenos, Camila Vallejo, en una transmisión televisiva llamó a la senadora chilena Ena von Baer 'senadora designada' por lo cual dicha senadora se sintió terriblemente ofendida. Efectivamente Ena von Baer fue designada y no eligida con el voto popular por medio de elecciones.

Correcto.

appoint = designar/nombrar

In English we say to handpick somebody I think

Yes, but that makes little sense in context.