Nicolas Cataldo, from the Communist Party and until now Undersecretary of Regional Development, will be the new minister of Education, replacing Marco Antonio Avila.

His substitution comes at a time when Chilean teachers’ union held two strikes and warned of a third one for an indefinite period, if the government does not meet a list of labor demands on August 17.

Meanwhile, Javiera Toro will be in charge of the Ministry of Social Development, leaving behind his leadership of National Assets and substituting Giorgio Jackson, who resigned on Friday due to pressures from the right and the ultra-right wings.

Marcela Sandoval will take her post as minister of National Assets; Aurora Williams will be heading Mining instead of Marcela Hernando, and Carolina Arredondo will replace Jaime de Aguirre in the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage.

After such a reshuffle, the new government team will be made up of 13 women and 11 men.

ef/omr/car