Chile's Minister of Women and Gender Equity, Judith Marín, confirmed the Kast government will continue pursuing the involuntary resignation of SernamEG director Priscilla Carrasco once her medical leave for breast cancer treatment concludes. This follows last week's initial request, which was paused due to her retroactive leave. The move continues to spark cross-party criticism amid questions over management and political trust.
The resignation process, initiated on March 30 by Undersecretary Daniela Castro, halted when Carrasco activated retroactive medical leave for triple negative breast cancer treatment. In a Sunday interview with La Tercera, Minister Marín affirmed: “Yes, it is a decision based on the motives already stated,” calling it “one of the most painful decisions I have had to make.”
President José Antonio Kast has cited a lack of trust due to differing views on managing SernamEG, Prodemu, and the ministry. Former Minister Antonia Orellana countered in a video, referencing a 2023 Comptroller's audit that highlighted improvements in user follow-up under Carrasco, while attributing Prodemu's deficit to longstanding collective bargaining issues since 2011.
Carrasco responded to La Tercera: “If I come from the previous government and there is no political trust, I understand perfectly. But during treatment, the minimum I would have expected is for them to let me finish it.” Critics include PDG's Tamara Ramírez, who deemed it 'unacceptable,' while Republican Javiera Rodríguez supported it over management concerns, and IND-UDI's Marlene Pérez called for procedural respect.
