Bogota, Nov. 4, (dpa/GNA) – Chile’s Interior Minister Victor Perez resigned on Tuesday after just three months in office, in a new blow to President Sebastian Pinera’s government, local media reported.
Perez stepped down as moves to oust him advanced in Congress, with the lower chamber voting in favour of censuring and impeaching him earlier in the day.
The minister had been criticized over his handling of a truck drivers’ strike and of alleged police brutality during recent protests.
His departure was a new blow to Pinera’s conservative government, which was forced by a protest wave to organize a referendum on a constitutional reform, and which has struggled with an economic crisis amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Perez said the moves against him were aimed at creating obstacles for the government and that he was resigning to prevent such damage.
Interior Ministry undersecretary Juan Francisco Galli was appointed to succeed Perez in the interim, daily La Tercera reported.
GNA