Former Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrés Allamand
SANTIAGO, Feb 7 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Chilean Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrés Allamand, resigned Sunday amid criticism for his absence from the country while an acute crisis of irregular migration is developing on the northern border.
The now former Foreign Minister returned from his vacation and tendered his resignation amid a barrage of questions for leaving the country during the migration crisis.
“The Presidency of the Republic reports that this morning President Sebastián Piñera has accepted the resignation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrés Allamand Zavala,” reads the message from the Head of State.
The Chilean foreign minister himself admitted that his trip to Spain had unleashed “a series of criticisms that affect the government of which I am a part, and incidentally, they intend to discredit the work of the foreign ministry.”
“Such criticism has not only distorted the activities he has carried out abroad but has also contributed to inappropriately stressing the political climate,” he said on his way out.
From the opposition they assured that the actions of the now former minister would constitute a constitutional accusation for “abandonment of duties.”
Meanwhile, from the executive they reported that Carolina Valdivia Torres, as a substitute, will assume the position. Torres was currently serving as Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs.
“President Sebastian Pinera thanks Andres Allamand for his leadership while in office and wishes Carolina Valdivia success in this new challenge,” the statement said.
Allamand will become the secretary general of the Ibero-American General Secretariat in the coming weeks.
Pinera’s government will end on March 11.
Gabriel Boric of the Apruebo Dignidad party will take office at the age of 35 and a month after winning the Dec 19 presidential elections. — NNN-AGENCIES
