Minister Martín Arrau requests resignation of undersecretaries and announces restructuring in Public Security

Less than two weeks after assuming office as Minister of Public Security, Martín Arrau made his first high-level adjustment within the portfolio by requesting the resignation of Undersecretaries Andrés Jouannet and Ana Victoria Quintana, a decision aimed at reorganizing the ministry's operations and marking a new phase in his administration.

The decision was communicated during the morning of this Tuesday and, according to reports, responds to the Secretary of State's intention to form a team aligned with the guidelines and priorities he intends to promote in security matters.

"It is normal that, when there are changes in ministries, changes are made in focus and management methods," Arrau stated in remarks to the press before traveling to Valparaíso. The minister added that they are currently in a process of institutional readjustment and emphasized that "we are all, including myself, under constant evaluation."

The departure of both undersecretaries also occurs on a key day for the head of Public Security, who must appear before the Chamber and the specialized Senate committee to present the main axes of the strategy the portfolio will promote in the coming months.

Arrau, who served as campaign manager for President José Antonio Kast and participated in drafting the security proposals included in the government program, seeks to put his own stamp on a ministry that recently began its functions and faces high expectations regarding crime fighting and strengthening citizen security.

Controversies marked Quintana's tenure

Ana Victoria Quintana, Undersecretary of Crime Prevention until this Tuesday, was involved in various controversies during her time in office.

One of them arose after a television interview in which she argued that, in the face of insecurity problems, people should adopt self-care and personal protection measures. Her statements drew criticism from various political and social sectors, who questioned that the responsibility for confronting crime fell on citizens.

Subsequently, Quintana was again subject to criticism when, defending then-Minister Trinidad Steinert against lawmakers' demands for a concrete security plan, she sarcastically noted that some seemed to expect a "spiral-bound book" with the Government's measures.

Jouannet faced questions prior to his appointment

For his part, Andrés Jouannet, who headed the Undersecretariat of Public Security, had faced criticism before assuming office due to his ties to individuals investigated in the so-called Slot Machine Case.

Despite the questions, President Kast publicly supported his appointment and confirmed his inclusion in the government team.

With the simultaneous departure of both undersecretaries, the Ministry of Public Security begins a new stage marked by the search for a leadership structure aligned with Arrau's vision, who must now define the names that will lead the two strategic undersecretariats of the portfolio.