Matthei Condemns Yáñez’s Resignation: ‘It Violates Me as a Chilean’
Providencia Mayor Evelyn Matthei has strongly criticized the resignation of Ricardo Yáñez as General Director of the Carabineros, Chile’s national police force. Matthei, speaking during a tour of the O’Higgins region, expressed her outrage at the decision, arguing that it is those responsible for the country’s crime problem who should be held accountable, not the ones doing the job.
It violates me, as a Chilean, that when we have a serious problem with crime, the one who has done the job is asked to resign, while those who have failed remain there. It violates me, Matthei said.
The mayor also highlighted the unfairness of the situation, stating: How easy it is to send all the Carabineros to expose their lives and then ask for their resignation for any reason, while those responsible do not do their job.
Previously, Matthei had expressed her views on the matter through a post on her X (formerly Twitter) account, where she wrote: The world upside down: The one who does the job in Security resigns, and those who fail in it, remain there.
Yáñez’s Resignation
On Friday afternoon, President Gabriel Boric accepted Yáñez’s resignation. In a conversation with the media, the former head of the uniformed police force indicated that his decision was driven by a sense of respect for the institution, his Carabineros, the uniform he wore, and his institutional trajectory.
I insist, (the decision was) out of a personal conviction, of respect for the investiture of what it means to be a general director, towards the institution and towards my Carabineros, Yáñez expressed.
General Marcelo Araya will assume command of the institution in Yáñez’s place.
Conclusion
Matthei’s strong reaction to Yáñez’s resignation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by Chile’s security forces and the need for accountability at the highest levels. As the country grapples with rising crime rates, the mayor’s words serve as a reminder that the responsibility for addressing these issues should not fall solely on the shoulders of those on the frontlines, but also on the decision-makers who shape the policies and strategies that guide the Carabineros’ operations.
