Chile's president-elect José Antonio Kast has unveiled his new cabinet in Santiago, with a controversial appointment at the helm of the women and gender equity ministry. Judith Marín, a 30-year-old evangelical activist and staunch opponent of abortion, has been named to the role, drawing immediate scrutiny given her outspoken views on reproductive rights and family values.
A Polarising Figure in Chilean Politics
Marín is no stranger to controversy in Chile's political arena. She made headlines in 2021 when she was forcibly removed by police from the senate chamber for disrupting a vote on decriminalising abortion under restricted circumstances. At the time, she shouted "return to the Lord," highlighting her deep-seated religious convictions that have shaped her political career.
The newly appointed minister has publicly questioned the very existence of the ministry she will now lead, while consistently advocating for what she terms the "natural family" – a concept centred on traditional household structures headed by a man and woman. In October, Marín declared: "Our country is going through a spiritual, social, moral and political crisis, and more than ever we, the children of God, need to stand up."
Kast's Cabinet Announcement and Political Vision
President-elect Kast, a Catholic father of nine who has built his political career on opposing abortion, presented his cabinet during a ceremony in an upmarket Santiago neighbourhood. "This unity cabinet was not formed to administer normality," Kast stated. "It was brought together to face a national emergency."
The cabinet composition reflects Kast's far-right political alignment, with 13 men and 11 women averaging 54 years of age. Most members are drawn from right-wing and far-right circles, with limited representation from centrist political voices. Notably, two appointees have direct connections to former dictator Augusto Pinochet.
Historical Connections and Political Continuity
Fernando Barros, 68, who will become defence minister, previously defended Pinochet during his 1998 extradition proceedings in London. Meanwhile, the new justice minister, Fernando Rabat, 53, represented the former dictator in a major embezzlement case that began in 2004.
Kast himself is a well-documented supporter of Pinochet, having campaigned to maintain the dictatorship before the 1988 referendum that ultimately removed the former leader from power. During his 2017 presidential campaign, Kast remarked that Pinochet would have voted for him if still alive. Chile returned to democracy in 1990, and Pinochet died in 2006 without facing trial for human rights violations committed during his regime.
Abortion Legislation in Chile
The appointment comes at a critical juncture for reproductive rights in Chile. Since 2017, abortion has been decriminalised in three specific circumstances: when the mother's life is at risk, when pregnancy results from rape, or when the foetus will not survive. However, Chile's congress is currently debating a bill presented by outgoing president Gabriel Boric that would decriminalise abortion in any circumstances up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Marín has publicly decried such legislative efforts, consistently stating her support for life "from conception to natural death." Her background includes leadership roles in evangelical student groups, particularly the Eagles of Jesus – a far-right Christian organisation that recruits at universities across Chile.
Political Context and Future Implications
Kast secured a decisive victory in December's runoff election, focusing his campaign primarily on anti-crime and anti-migration messaging while largely avoiding discussion of his conservative social values. During a televised debate, he simply stated: "I have not changed my convictions," leaving many to speculate about his intentions regarding social policy.
The president-elect, who will be sworn in on 11 March for a four-year term, won the presidency on his third attempt. His cabinet appointments signal a significant shift in Chile's political direction, particularly regarding gender equality and reproductive rights. Marín's ministry will now be responsible for advancing women's rights while being led by someone who has questioned the ministry's fundamental purpose and opposed key reproductive health measures.
As Chile prepares for this new political era, the appointment of Judith Marín as women and gender equity minister represents one of the most contentious decisions in Kast's cabinet formation, setting the stage for potential conflicts over reproductive rights and gender equality policies in the coming years.
