Senator Questions Defense Minister’s Absence During Crisis: Where is Fernando Barros?

Original article: ¿Dónde está el ministro de Defensa?: Acusan ausencia de Fernando Barros en plena emergencia

«President, where is your minister?»: Senator Flores Critiques Barros’ Absence Amidst Crisis

Defense Minister, Fernando Barros

Senator Iván Flores has strongly criticized the absence of Defense Minister Fernando Barros during the ongoing emergency caused by a severe weather system, which has resulted in fatalities and widespread damage across various regions of Chile. According to T13, the senator challenged President José Antonio Kast, questioning who is leading the Armed Forces while the minister is out of the country.

Flores mentioned that Minister Barros is reportedly participating in the international naval exercise RIMPAC taking place in Hawaii. While he acknowledged that the trip may relate to the responsibilities of the ministry, he argued that prioritizing the national emergency should take precedence. «In critical moments like these, the main focus should be here, leading the institutions,» he stated, as reported by T13.

In a video shared by T13, the senator expressed his concern over the absence of the Defense Minister and questioned the strategic leadership of the Armed Forces: «I ask: where is the strategic leadership of the Armed Forces? What about the presence of the Defense Minister? What happened?» Flores added, «In times like these, our Armed Forces need political leadership that is close, visible, and committed, exercised within the country and not from abroad«.

The senator also referenced the recent Operation Salitre, a multinational military exercise conducted a few weeks ago, in which Minister Barros was similarly absent, despite the participation of the President. «Then the question is: what is the Defense Minister doing if he is not leading his institutions? I am simply asking, and I direct this question to the Government, directly to the President,» he concluded, as reported by T13. On the afternoon of Saturday, July 18, it was reported that Barros would join the deployment of the Army’s Modular Field Hospital in Ovalle, which was affected by the severe weather system.