Cabinet change in Santiago
NZPA Santiago The Chilean Cabinet has resigned to give President Augusto Pinochet a free hand to introduce reforms leading to a return to democracy, a Government spokesman has said in Santiago. General Pinochet appointed the Comptroller-Gen-eral (Mr Sergio Fernandez) his new Interior Minister, the first civilian in the post since the armed forces seized power in September, 1973. He replaced General Cesar Benavides, who was named Defence Minister. A Government spokesman. General Rene Vidal, told reporters that the Cabinet had resigned to give President Pinochet a free hand to act on reforms leading to an “authoritarian democracy” he announced in a broadcast Speech on April 5.
General Pinochet said then civilians would play a much larger role in Government, but political power would remain in the hands of the armed rces Mr Fernandez was named Comptroller-General shortly be f ore General Pinochet held a national referendum on his Government’s record in January.
A former Labour Minister under General Pinochet, he replaced Mr Hector Humeres, who had ruled that the referendum was illegal.
Mr Fernandez reversed the ruling on the referendum, in which 75 per cent voted in General Pinochet’s favour.
The Cabinet last resigned in December. 1976, to give President Pinochet a free hand to reorganise his Ministerial team.
The team which resigned comprised 11 military men and nine civilians.
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Press, 14 April 1978, Page 6
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224Cabinet change in Santiago Press, 14 April 1978, Page 6
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