Chile meets controversy in remaking the role of first lady
15 minutes ago
FILE - Chile's new President Gabriel Boric, accompanied by first lady Irina Karamanos, waves to supporters after delivering a speech from a balcony of La Moneda presidential palace, in Santiago, Chile, March 11, 2022. Chile's new left-leaning government is doing away with the office of the first lady as part of its effort to transform a role that both the president and his partner have characterized as archaic. The government said Wednesday, June 22, 2022, that first lady Irina Karamanos will now be known as the “sociocultural coordinator of the republic’s presidency.” (AP Photo/Esteban Felix, File)
SANTIAGO (AP) — Chile’s new left-leaning government is doing away with the office of the first lady in an effort to transform a role that both the president and his partner have characterized as archaic.
The first lady will now be known as the “sociocultural coordinator of the republic’s presidency,” the government said in a news release Wednesday.
The administration of President Gabriel Boric got to that title after having to backtrack on an effort to give the role a makeover by declaring the office once known as “the first lady’s Cabinet” would be changed to “Irina Karamanos’ Cabinet,” using the name of the president’s partner.
The move, which became public Tuesday, quickly drew accusations from many members of the opposition that the government was trying to personalize an institutional role in the government.
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https://apnews.com/article/politics-caribbean-chile-c02748c29455e1edad36b98230d6279b