'Old windbags go home': author Allende heralds Chile's new political generation
January 24, 2022
3:32 PM CST
Last Updated 8 hours ago
Americas
By Lucila Sigal
2 minute read
Author Isabel Allende stands to receive a honorary Doctor of Letters degree as fellow
honorary degree recipient musician Aretha Franklin applauds during the 363rd
Commencement Exercises at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts May 29, 2014.
REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo
Jan 24 (Reuters) - Chilean author Isabel Allende heralded the young and female-dominated incoming government of President-elect Gabriel Boric on Monday and said it marked a much-needed changing of the guard of the Andean country's political leadership.
"It's a new generation rising to power. It's time for the old windbags to go home and play bingo," the 79-year-old writer said during a Zoom press conference to mark the launch of her latest novel "Violeta," a tale inspired by her mother.
The 35-year-old Boric revealed his Cabinet on Friday. It was majority female, with over half a dozen ministers under the age of 40 and including other politicians who made their name, like Boric, during student-led street protests a decade ago.
"I am delighted by the ministers Boric has appointed because it is very diverse, there are 14 women and 10 men. There really is a solid intention there for gender parity and that is just extraordinary," said Allende.
More:
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/old-windbags-go-home-author-allende-heralds-chiles-new-political-generation-2022-01-24/?rpc=401&