Minister Judith Marín is set to return to the Senate’s Commission on Women and Gender Equity this Monday to answer lingering questions regarding the attempted termination of Priscilla Carrasco, the former head of the National Service for Women and Gender Equity (SernamEG).
This marks the second time in less than two weeks that the Minister has been called before the parliamentary body. Her previous appearance on Monday failed to satisfy lawmakers, who remain critical of her handling of the case.
The commission, chaired by Senator Loreto Carvajal (PPD), has requested that both Minister Marín and Undersecretary Daniela Castro attend the session between 11:00 and 12:30. Legislators intend to seek concrete answers to inquiries that were left unresolved during the last meeting.
A standoff over institutional accountability
At the heart of the dispute is the government’s decision to fire Carrasco, citing "reasons of trust" and "service continuity." However, the administration subsequently placed the dismissal on hold after Carrasco submitted a medical leave request. This reversal has prompted intense questioning from senators, particularly those in the opposition who hold a majority on the committee.
Senator Carvajal emphasized that the session's primary objective is to secure clear responses to the committee's observations. "The appropriate thing is to maintain a collaborative attitude, but also to generate the connection between the Executive and the Legislative branches through the Women's Commission," Carvajal said.
During last week's session, the Minister faced sharp criticism for appearing to dodge questions regarding the specifics of the firing. The tension reached a peak when Senate President Paulina Núñez (RN)—who also sits on the commission—reminded the Minister of her duty to provide answers to a separate branch of government.
"One thing is the invitation, the topics one comes to talk about, and another thing is that any senator in any commission can ask any question they have," Núñez told the Minister. "If you are before another power of the State, you must try to respond to that power, even more so when it is the power that represents the citizenry."
Minister Marín responded at the time by stating that her office would accept written requests for information. However, as of late this week, the Ministry of Women has not confirmed the Minister's attendance for Monday. Officials noted that the Minister has a cabinet meeting and other scheduled engagements, leaving her participation in the legislative session in doubt.
