Cabinet meeting: Kast questions the opposition's tone, apologizes for a statement regarding investigations, and supports his ministers.

President José Antonio Kast presided over his third cabinet meeting on Monday since assuming office on March 11th. At the beginning of the meeting with his ministers in the Montt Varas Hall at La Moneda, the President addressed his team, questioning the tone of the opposition in political discussions, apologizing for his statement regarding the funding of scientific research, and expressing support for the work of his ministers. The President began by acknowledging the female ministers who are mothers, in recognition of this past Sunday, and then extended that gratitude to the rest of the cabinet. "Thank you to each of the ministers, because I know how intense these days have been, and the territorial outreach has been very impressive. Every time I see the weekly summaries of their activities, I say, 'we are on the right track,' and that gives perspective to what we are doing," he said. Dragomir Yankovic/Aton Chile DRAGOMIR YANKOVIC/ATON CHILE In his address, Kast specifically highlighted the ministers of National Assets, Catalina Parot; Agriculture, Jaime Campos; Education, María Paz Arzola; Housing, Iván Poduje; Public Works, Martín Arrau; Culture, Francisco Undurraga; Science, Ximena Lincolao; and Health, May Chomali. He then launched criticisms against his political opponents: "There is always a part of the opposition that raises the tone in different areas, and then the facts show that it was an inappropriate escalation." Following this, the Head of State addressed the way he referred to research and publications in a public meeting in Puerto Montt, which sparked concern among scientific societies in the country. "Regarding science, perhaps the phrase could be modified, but what we are aiming for is to ensure that all resources for science are used effectively. Science is fundamental, and the proper use of resources is also essential, and this generates a discussion that I believe is ultimately positive, because we will support good scientists with even more strength, with more resources if everything is used well. It is also a call to attention to the regional governments, because if they are going to provide resources for scientific studies, will they be able to monitor them? Or do all the regional governments have the right people to later see how the resources were used?" he emphasized. Dragomir Yankovic/Aton Chile DRAGOMIR YANKOVIC/ATON CHILE In the same vein, he expressed his support for the Minister of Sports, Natalia Duco, who was criticized for a statement in which she said that the priority of her ministry is the clothing of athletes. "Regarding sports, there is a phrase that has been mentioned, but every time you talk to athletes, they say, 'I have to feel proud to represent Chile.' I go beyond what is sometimes highlighted, which is the phrase, and focus on what is being done, on the concrete actions," he noted. In the final part of his remarks, the President called on his ministers to refine the details for his first public address, scheduled for next June. "I invite all of you to prepare for the public address on June 1st. On that day, we will have been in office for 84 days. Our challenge was the "Challenge 90," but we already have so much information about what we need to show and what is coming up, that I believe people will see that hope that we have been talking about come to fruition, and they will see it again, ministry by ministry, in each of the actions and projects being carried out. So, thank you, and let's put that perspective into it, so that people continue to have that hope that it is possible to recover and rebuild the soul of Chile," he concluded.