The elected president of Chile, José Antonio Kast, presented this Tuesday (20), the ministerial team that will take over the government from March 11th. The announcement drew attention both due to the economic discourse and the political composition of the cabinet, which includes two former lawyers of the dictator Augusto Pinochet, responsible for the military regime that governed the country between 1973 and 1990. The information is from The Country.
24 ministers were confirmed, of which 16 have no formal party affiliation. According to Kast, the choice prioritized technical criteria and professional experience, with a strong presence of staff coming from the private sector. The president-elect stated that the formation of the cabinet was not the result of traditional political agreements and was designed to respond quickly to the country’s economic and security challenges.
Among the names that generated the greatest repercussion is Fernando Barros, appointed to the Ministry of Defense. Barros served for decades as legal advisor to former president Sebastián Piñera and was part of the team that defended Pinochet during his arrest in London in 1998.
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Another sensitive name is Fernando Rabat, chosen to head the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights. Rabat participated in Pinochet’s defense in emblematic cases, such as Operation Colombo — which investigated the disappearance of opponents of the regime — and the Riggs case, about resources held abroad by the former dictator.
His appointment provoked criticism from human rights organizations, especially because the department has responsibilities related to memory policy and decisions on pardons.
Entities representing families of victims of the dictatorship formally reacted to the announcement, stating that the choice of the two ministers represents disrespect for the memory of those killed and disappeared during the military period. Criticism focused mainly on the nomination for Justice, as it directly involves issues linked to human rights violations.
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When defending his team, Kast stated that Chile is going through a moment that requires quick responses and tough decisions. He classified the ministry as an “emergency cabinet”, aimed at combating crime and economic recovery.
According to the president-elect, the priority will be to create a more predictable environment for investments, reinforce public security and unlock growth, after a period of slowdown and uncertainty.
