Overview
- President José Antonio Kast removed Public Security Minister Trinidad Steinert and government spokesperson Mara Sedini on Tuesday, less than three months after taking office.
- Martín Arrau moved from Public Works to lead Public Security, Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado also became the government spokesman, and Louis de Grange added Public Works to his Transport and Telecommunications post.
- Kast said he acted out of urgency, while Steinert had faced backlash for acknowledging there was no structured security plan and Sedini drew criticism for frequent communication missteps.
- Recent Cadem polling showed Kast at about 36% approval with disapproval near 57% to 58%, increasing pressure on the government to show results on its crime pledge.
- Multiple outlets noted this is the quickest cabinet adjustment since Chile’s 1990 democratic transition, coming days before Kast’s annual address and as his economic package readies for Congress.