Chile's President-Elect Names Anti-Abortion Figure as Gender Equality Minister
Chile's incoming far-right president, José Antonio Kast, has unveiled his new cabinet, appointing Judith Marín as the women and gender equity minister. This move has ignited controversy due to Marín's strong opposition to abortion rights and her evangelical background.
Controversial Appointment Sparks Debate
Judith Marín, a 30-year-old evangelical former student church group president, is known for her vehement stance against abortion, publicly supporting life "from conception to natural death." Her appointment was announced during a ceremony in Santiago on 20 January 2026, where Kast introduced his cabinet in an upmarket neighbourhood of the capital.
Marín has a history of activism against abortion decriminalisation. In a notable incident, she was ejected from Chile's senate by police for screaming "return to the Lord" during a vote on decriminalising abortion under restricted circumstances. She belongs to the Eagles of Jesus, a far-right Christian group that recruits at universities across the country.
Kast's Cabinet and Political Stance
José Antonio Kast, a Catholic father of nine and a staunch opponent of abortion throughout his career, described his cabinet as a "unity cabinet" formed to face a "national emergency." He won a resounding victory in December's runoff vote, focusing on anti-crime and anti-migration messages while avoiding detailed discussions on conservative social values during the campaign.
The cabinet comprises 13 men and 11 women, with an average age of 54, mostly drawn from right and far-right factions, with limited centrist representation. Notably, two ministers are lawyers who represented former dictator Augusto Pinochet. Fernando Barros, the new defence minister, defended Pinochet during extradition proceedings in London in 1998, while Fernando Rabat, the justice minister, represented him in an embezzlement case starting in 2004.
Abortion Laws and Political Context
Since 2017, abortion in Chile has been decriminalised in three specific cases: when the mother's life is at risk, in cases of rape, or if the foetus will not survive. However, Chile's congress is currently debating a bill presented by outgoing president Gabriel Boric, which aims to decriminalise abortion in any circumstances up to the 14th week of pregnancy.
Marín has publicly questioned the future of the ministry she will lead and defended the "natural family" concept, emphasising a household headed by a man and woman as central to society. In October, she stated, "Our country is going through a spiritual, social, moral and political crisis, and more than ever we, the children of God, need to stand up."
Historical Ties and Future Implications
Kast, who won the presidency on his third attempt, is a known supporter of former dictator Augusto Pinochet. He campaigned to keep Pinochet in power before a 1988 referendum and once remarked that the former dictator would have voted for him if alive. Pinochet died in 2006 without facing trial for human rights violations or financial scandals.
Chile voted to remove Pinochet from power in 1990, restoring democracy. Kast will be sworn in on 11 March to serve a four-year term, with his cabinet choices signalling a shift towards conservative social policies that could impact gender equality and reproductive rights in the country.
