President-elect of Chile announces a moderate cabinet; Marcel will lead Treasury

The elected president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, appointed a moderate cabinet for his future government and with the current head of the Central Bank at the head of public finances, which was well received by the markets.

The 35-year-old president described his ministerial train as “diverse”, with people of different origins and formations.

“This cabinet has the mission of laying the foundations for the great reforms that we have proposed to carry out in our program,” he said after announcing the names of his future ministers.

In recent days, speculation began about the arrival of the respected economist Mario Marcel, who has been at the head of the governing body since 2016, to the Treasury office, which was greeted by the financial markets.

“The appointment of people like Marcel comes to strengthen the idea that it is a process of change, but not sudden, but slow. It makes more sense in the sense that radical changes are much more complex,” said Miguel Angel López, a professor at the University of Chile.

Marcel, a moderate expert who is linked to the Socialist Party although without militancy, will have among his challenges promoting a tax reform promised by Boric.

“We take on with great affection and energy the challenge of consolidating the recovery of our economy without reproducing its structural inequalities. We are talking about sustainable growth accompanied by a fair redistribution of wealth”, said the young leader in his speech.

On the other hand, in the Ministry of the Interior, Boric appointed his ally and campaign manager, the internist doctor Izkia Siches, who had an outstanding public participation as president of the Medical College during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, Marcela Hernando, former mayor and parliamentarian of the Radical Party of the northern region of Antofagasta, was appointed as Minister of Mining.

The National Mining Society (Sonami), which brings together the vital sector of the world’s largest copper producer, celebrated the appointments of Marcel and Hernando.

“Our sector is available to collaborate in the challenges of the sector, especially in times where mining faces a highly competitive international scenario and a key situation for its future,” said Diego Hernández, president of Sonami.