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Chilean president to reshuffle cabinet amid scandals

Thursday, 07 May 2015 5:27 AM [ Last Update: Thursday, 07 May 2015 5:27 AM ]

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet (© AFP)

Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has asked all her ministers to resign following several scandals rocking her administration.

“Some hours ago, I asked all of my ministers to submit their resignation,” Bachelet said.

She announced, “It is the time for a cabinet change.”

The president added she will decide in the next three days which ministers remain and which must leave the cabinet.

Chilean's trust in politicians and the business elite in the country has dropped recently over scandals involving right-wing politicians and a prominent financial company.

In addition, a recent controversy involving the president's family has taken a big toll on Bachelet’s image.

Bachelet, who won the presidency last year promising to fight inequality in the Latin American country, is now facing the lowest approval rating of her political career.

The center-left president’s popularity loss follows the controversies over illicit campaign financing and questions about a lucrative bank loan and land deal granted to her son and daughter-in-law.

Bachelet has acknowledged that she has made “important mistakes” in not responding to the scandals in due time.

Meanwhile, Bachelet’s party has voiced support for the move, saying the resignation demand heralds a new stage in the president’s push for major reforms in the country.

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