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Original article: Presidenta de ANFUMMEG: «No hay una autoridad política al frente del Ministerio de la Mujer» 

Following a public statement from ANFUMMEG, its president, Paulina Cid, elaborated on the association’s complaints and detailed the background that led to actions taken before the Public Ministry and the Comptroller’s Office.

On July 3rd, the National Association of Officials of the Ministry of Women and Gender Equality (ANFUMMEG) expressed deep concern through a public statement, citing a serious decline in the internal management of the Ministry under the new leadership of José Kast’s government. The organization claims there is a lack of political and administrative guidance, absence of an institutional agenda, and a growing weakness within the Ministry’s operations.

In its statement, the association indicated that it has repeatedly flagged various administrative problems to the authorities since March, including delays in overtime payments, travel expenses, and daycare services; challenges with suppliers and basic services; as well as mistakes in public procurement and deficiencies in internal processes. They assert that no corrective actions were taken and that individuals deemed responsible for the decline were allowed to remain in their positions.

Additionally, ANFUMMEG claims to have learned of alleged salary increases given without following regular procedures, and it points to potential breaches of propriety, conflicts of interest, and possible misuse of public funds—issues that, in their view, warrant investigation.

In light of this situation, the board announced the filing of two complaints, one with the Public Ministry and another with the Comptroller General’s Office, to investigate possible official crimes and corruption related to the Ministry’s internal operations.

Moreover, the association raised several demands, including the removal of those it holds accountable for institutional deterioration, transparent investigations into alleged irregularities, urgent resolution of management issues, appointment of a new internal auditor, and development of a strategic plan to strengthen the institution. They also expressed opposition to any initiatives that might weaken, merge, or transform the Ministry, viewing such actions as a setback for gender institutionalization in Chile.

Critique of the Ministry’s New Leadership

In an interview with El Ciudadano, Paulina Cid, President of ANFUMMEG, indicated that the association has been warning since March about management issues stemming from the new strategic leadership of the Ministry, which they argue has not been properly implementing internal procedures or public institution regulations. She believes this predicament has led to operational difficulties, with teams hesitant to execute actions deemed inappropriate, consequently impacting management and budget execution.

Furthermore, Cid pointed out a «weakness» in the leadership of the current Ministry authorities. She asserted that both the minister and the undersecretary are failing to provide effective oversight to rectify identified deficiencies or ensure adherence to internal procedures. Additionally, she noted the absence of a clear agenda to address policies targeting women, leading to slow and unfocused management.

«There is no political authority at the helm of the Ministry providing clear instructions on what the agenda for women in Chile should be. As a result, everything is marked by slowness and a lack of strategy. We sometimes think this represents a form of internal destruction within the Ministry aimed at causing it to fail, which is deeply concerning,» Cid stated.

Regarding the complaints filed by ANFUMMEG, Cid clarified that the first was submitted to the Public Ministry over potential official crimes. She indicated that this action relates to alleged incidents that occurred during a «vacuum of power» within the Ministry, which purportedly allowed individuals closely linked to authorities to have their ranks increased.

As for the report made to the Comptroller General’s Office, Cid mentioned it involves alleged irregularities in the assignment of critical functions. She explained that during the transition between one undersecretary’s exit and the new authority’s arrival, officials already in strategic roles reportedly increased their salaries by assigning critical functions without adhering to established procedures for authorizing such benefits.

Additionally, Cid explained that the association speaks of a potential dismantling of the Ministry because they believe that the internal management deterioration has reached such a magnitude that it could be indicative of a strategy to weaken the institution from within. This has also resulted in frustration among civil servants with years of experience who feel hindered in performing their duties due to challenges within the internal management.

«These new authorities are blocking our ability to do our jobs. If we add to that their mindset which questions the very purpose of the Ministry in benefiting the women of Chile, it indicates we are facing a kind of time bomb from within. They are either placing the worst individuals in charge to ensure this doesn’t function properly or they simply don’t care,» she stated.

Finally, she directly criticized Judith Marín, the Minister of Women, accusing her of weak leadership regarding the Ministry’s internal management. She asserted that the Secretary of State has failed to push necessary measures or establish a clear strategy to address the issues affecting the Ministry, as perceived by the association.

El Ciudadano.

La entrada ANFUMMEG President: «There Is No Political Authority Leading the Ministry of Women» se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.