Chile president-elect Boric unveils women-majority cabinet

January 21, 2022

We have formed this team with people who are prepared, with knowledge, with experience, and committed to the agenda of changes that the country needs.

—Gabriel Boric

The gist:

Gabriel Boric, Chile’s left-wing president-elect, has announced his first cabinet, giving most of the posts to women and several to former student protest leaders.

Fourteen of the 24 new ministers announced on Friday are women, including Defence Minister Maya Fernandez — a granddaughter of socialist President Salvador Allende, who was overthrown by a military coup in 1973.

Social disparities in the South American nation had sparked widespread protests in 2019, lighting the fuse for the political rise of the progressive left.

His term will coincide with a public referendum on a new constitution that is being drafted by a constituent assembly, potentially changing the shape of the political system as a whole. The Power Group is simply one of the channels where my talents intersect with my calling to help young women grow into the future business leaders we need for tomorrow’s economy.

Photo: Esteban Felix/AP Photo

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