Santiago — Chilean President Gabriel Boric has announced his third cabinet reshuffle since taking office in March 22, replacing five ministers on Wednesday, including Mining Minister Marcela Hernando, who is replaced by Aurora Williams.
Williams had headed the mining ministry in the government of former President Michelle Bachelet.
After announcing Williams’ appointment, Boric called on her to “consolidate our national lithium policy and to continue maintaining the world leadership of Chilean mining, to continue advancing in the moral obligation to reduce poverty and also inequality”.
Communist Nicolás Cataldo replaced Marco Antonio Ávila as ninister of education, and independent Jaime de Aguirre leaves the post of culture minister and is replaced by Carolina Arredondo Marzán, who is an actor.
Javiera Toro has been replaced as minister for national assets by Marcela Sandoval, and Toro moves to the role of minister for social development, following the resignation of Giorgio Jackson from that role on August 11.
The reshuffle, carried out in a ceremony at La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago, takes place in the midst of controversy generated by the so-called “convenios” case, involving large transfers of public funds to foundations linked to pro-government militants and which has implicated mostly regional authorities.
The controversy unleashed a political storm and led to the breakdown in negotiations between the government and opposition sectors toward a pension reform and a fiscal pact.
The government had ruled out a change in its administration until a few weeks ago, despite the opposition’s insistence on this measure. However, the political climate remained tense, hindering the process of reaching agreements to move forward some of the government’s projects in Congress.
However, on Wednesday government spokesperson Camila Vallejo confirmed the reshuffle.
“These are changes that, in addition, have much to do with the demands of citizens, with the government agenda, and which have to do with how we continue to carry out in the best possible way our government program and our commitments”, Vallejo said during a press conference at La Moneda.
She added that the executive branch, regardless of the difficulties, will not walk away from dialogue with various sectors.
“This broad dialogue takes place in the towns, in the streets, with civil society organizations, with the elderly. It also takes place with political parties, parliamentarians, business leaders.”
The adjustment occurs five days after the resignation of Jackson from the social development portfolio after he came under pressure from legislators regarding the “convenios” case that involves several members of Boric’s Democratic Revolution (RD) party.
