MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bachelet reshuffles cabinet and names political veterans

Bachelet decided changes to the Cabinet

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet replaced five ministers in a major cabinet reshuffle to steady her embattled government hit by low approval ratings despite strong economic growth.

Bachelet, who already accepted the resignation of two ministers in the past month, said she was replacing her Economy, Mining, Public Works, Agriculture and Planning ministers. She also appointed a new Interior minister after the former minister resigned unexpectedly last week. Most of the new appointments are veterans from previous governments. Bachelet's approval ratings are suffering amid rising crime and as voters blame her for failing to fix problems with the public transit system in the capital eight months after a revamp belly-flopped. Chileans are also disgruntled that they have not seen more benefits from a copper bonanza that has driven the economy to three years of sustained strong growth. "I have decided to introduce changes to the Cabinet to face the second half of my presidential term," Bachelet said in announcing the new ministers. Most notable of the newly named ministers was veteran and experienced politician Edmundo Perez Yoma as Interior minister. Perez Yoma was defense minister under Chile's former president Eduardo Frei (1994-2000) and is considered to have played a key role in repairing the breach between the military and civil society in the wake of the 1973-1990 dictatorship. Incoming Minister Perez Yoma said he had excellent relations with all the groups inside the ruling coalition and underlined "I feel I have their full support". Bachelet replaced her Mining minister, a key job in the world's largest copper-producing nation, with Santiago Gonzalez, who currently works for the state lottery. In the Economy ministry, she appointed Hugo Lavados, former director of the government trade promotion agency ProChile. In Public Works, Agriculture and Planning, she appointed Sergio Bitar, Marigen Hornkohl, and Paula Quintana. Bachelet last reshuffled her Cabinet in March 2007, when she fired four ministers, including the defense, presidency, justice and transport ministers. She also split the duties of the mining ministry, creating an energy minister's post. Her spokesman Ricardo Lago Weber resigned in a surprise move in early December, leaving the government 21 months into office. Bachelet's Transport minister, Rene Cortazar, also tried to resign in December, but she refused to accept it. Then her Interior Minister Belisario Velasco suddenly quit on January 3, leaving amid rumors he was disgruntled for being marginalized in key decision-making. In July 2006, Bachelet replaced her Interior, Economy and Education ministers, four months into her government and following student protests. The opposition acknowledged that the reshuffle brought into the cabinet several outstanding names and said it would give time to the new ministers to familiarize with their posts.