Carlos Montero resigned as the Labor Secretary (Seremi) for the Valparaíso region only days after accepting the position. Sources confirmed the departure to La Radio, highlighting ongoing instability within the regional government's cabinet.
The Ministry of Labor stated that officials are currently reviewing candidate credentials. They clarified that an official designation is distinct from the legal verification required to formally exercise the role. Ministry representatives noted that previous statements from the presidential delegate relied on proposed candidate lists rather than finalized administrative processes.
Administrative instability in Valparaíso
Vacancies in key portfolios, including Labor and Health, persist more than a month into the year. The Health office remains under the direction of an interim substitute, Carlos Zamora.
Lester Campos, spokesperson for the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT) regional chapter, expressed frustration regarding the delays. He argued that the failure to stabilize these institutions suggests a centralized decision-making process that ignores regional needs.
Opposition voices have scrutinized the government’s appointment process. Socialist Deputy Nelson Venegas described the installation of regional secretaries as "traumatic," citing the rapid exit of the previous health secretary, who held his post for only three days.
"The resignation of the labor secretary adds to what has already been a traumatic installation of public officials in the Valparaíso region," Venegas said. He questioned the oversight of the regional presidential delegate, despite the delegate's professional experience.
Conversely, Deputy Javier Olivares of the Partido de la Gente dismissed the turnover as a normal part of a government transition. He argued that hiring issues occur in all sectors and that the administration deserves time to adjust its personnel.
"I don’t consider this anything serious; these things happen in every company," Olivares said. "People often start a job and realize the role isn't compatible or they simply don't like it. The world isn't ending because three secretaries have left. This government has been in power for less than 30 days."
The Ministry has yet to release an official statement regarding the specific reasons for Montero’s departure or the legal status of his brief tenure.
