The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and his girlfriend, Irina Karamanos, on the day of his inauguration, March 11, in Santiago. Photo: AFP
It was the political issue of the day this Wednesday in Chile, more because of its absurdity than because it was really serious. A government administrative act was unveiled on Tuesday evening that changed the name of the protocol structure that shapes the First Lady’s position in the country. A decision that has finally been rectified claiming an “administrative error” amid a barrage of criticism.
The story is as follows. Gabriel Boric’s government has decided to rename the “Cabinet of the First Lady” to “Cabinet Irina Karamanos”, the name of the Chilean leader’s companion.
The president had promised to remove the post, although shortly after, Karamanos assumed similar functions in the Palacio de La Moneda, the seat of the Chilean government.
The administrative act arrives absurd that, in the event that another person took office, he would assume her as “Irina Karamanos”.
Social networks were quickly filled with memes and jokes about the mistake. The Wikipedia pages of former first lady Cecilia Morel – wife of former president Sebastián Piñera – and Luisa Durán – wife of Ricardo Lagos – have been edited by “Ex Irina Karamanos of the Republic”.
Gabriel Boric’s partner, Irina Karamanos, had promised to reformulate the role of first lady. Photo. REUTERS
Criticism of Gabriel Boric
Despite the laughter, they stood up basic criticism of the Boric administration. The first, concerning the quality of the legal advisors that he has in his office, as the administrative act contravenes article 7 of the Chilean Constitution, which states that “no judiciary, no person or group of people can be charged, not even to pursuant to art. pretext of extraordinary circumstances, authorities or rights other than those expressly attributed to them by virtue of the Constitution or the laws “.
And there were already precedents. Former President Michelle Bachelet was not married or in a de facto relationship during her term. For the same reason, during his administrations different people have taken overincluding his son.
On that occasion, the position of First Lady was renamed the “Sociocultural Directorate of the Presidency” and from there the various bases that the First Ladies have created throughout the country’s history were directed.
After the hustle and bustle the government has decided to cancel the resolution which Irina Karamanos Cabinet called the administrative structure. Instead it was called “Socio-cultural coordination of the Presidential Office of the Republic”.
“administrative error”
The government spokesperson, Camila Vallejo, presented herself in front of the press and said that “in fact there was no visa and that is why the administrative error was confirmed by the Presidency and by Irina’s team itself and this is been corrected immediately “.
Likewise, he assured: “We understand the important work Irina has done in overcoming the position of first lady. We understand that the name has been changed, but it was not part of the political definition that this was personalized.” .
For her part, Karamanos herself has spoken out against criticism. Through her Twitter account, she explained: “With the belief that we do not want the naming in a resolution to take us away from the profound changes we are promoting, the resolution has been changed.”
In this context, the now socio-cultural coordinator of the Presidency assured that the main interest of the government is “to advance in the transformations of the role with which we are committed”.
Santiago, special
CB
Source: Clarin
