Judith Marín
Judith Marín | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Women and Gender Equity | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| President | José Antonio Kast |
| Preceded by | Antonia Orellana |
| General Secretary of the Christian Social Party | |
| Assumed office 23 September 2022 | |
| President | Sara Concha |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Member of San Ramón City Council | |
| In office 28 June 2021 – 6 December 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Judith Makarena Marín Morales December 24, 1995 Santiago, Chile |
| Party | PSC (since 2022) |
| Other political affiliations | RN (2021–2022) |
| Alma mater | University of Santiago, Chile |
| Occupation | Teacher • Politician |
Judith Makarena Marín Morales (born 24 December 1995) is a Chilean teacher and politician.[1] She is a member and secretary-general of the Christian Social Party (PSC) and served as a municipal councillor of San Ramón from 2021 to 2024. In January 2026, she was nominated as Minister of Women and Gender Equity in the government of President José Antonio Kast.[2]
Biography
Marín comes from an evangelical family from the La Bandera neighborhood in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. She completed her primary education at Escuela Ciudad de Lyon in El Bosque and her secondary education at an evangelical Christian school.[3]
She pursued higher education in Spanish Language and Philosophy Teaching at the University of Santiago, Chile, where she was part of the leadership of the university’s evangelical student group.[4]
Social activism
She has been publicly active as a social activist linked to social conservatism, particularly in moral and bioethical debates.[5] She has identified as a pro-life activist and has opposed the legalization of abortion in Chile.[6]
In July 2017, she was removed from the National Congress of Chile by the Carabineros de Chile after failing to comply with an eviction order during a session debating the decriminalization of abortion under three circumstances.[7]
Political career
She began her political career as a parliamentary adviser to congressman Eduardo Durán.[2] She later joined National Renewal, through which she was elected municipal councillor of San Ramón in the 2021 Chilean municipal elections, as part of the Chile Vamos coalition. She ran for re-election in the 2024 Chilean municipal elections but was not re-elected.[3]
After resigning from National Renewal, she participated in the founding of the Christian Social Party. In the 2025 Chilean parliamentary election, she ran as a candidate for the 12th electoral district of Chile but was not elected.[8]
Cabinet appointment
In January 2026, she was nominated as Minister of Women and Gender Equity, becoming the only member of the Social Christian Party to join the presidential cabinet.[9] Since her nomination, she has stated that her priorities include strengthening the family, preventing domestic violence, and promoting public policies supporting motherhood.
Controversies and public reception
Her appointment drew criticism from opposition sectors and feminist organizations, which expressed concern over potential breaches of the principle of state secularism and her positions on sexual and reproductive rights.[10]
Some political figures described her as a “religious fanatic” or linked her to alleged exorcism practices, claims that were denied by her political party.[11]
Personal life
She practices the evangelical faith, which she has acknowledged as influential in her personal and public life.[2]
Electoral history
| Year | Election | Constituency | Coalition | Party | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Municipal (Councillor)[12] | San Ramón | Chile Vamos | RN | 868 | 2.58 | Elected |
| 2024 | Municipal (Councillor)[13] | Christian Social Party | PSC | 1,841 | 3.83 | Not elected | |
| 2025 | Parliamentary (Deputy)[14] | 12th district | Cambio por Chile | 15,524 | 2.51 | Not elected |
References
- ^ "Dos tercios son independientes y promedian 54 años: Este es el gabinete que presentó José Antonio Kast para su gobierno". Emol (in Spanish). 20 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b c Javiera Rivera (20 January 2026). "Quién es Judith Marín, la joven evangélica que asumirá el Ministerio de la Mujer en el gobierno de Kast". ADN Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ a b Jorge Poblete (20 January 2026). "Lo que hay que saber de Judith Marín, evangélica de 30 años que llega al Ministerio de la Mujer". Ex-Ante (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ ""Una burla para las mujeres": Las críticas contra Judith Marín, the new Minister of Women in Kast's government". Teletrece (in Spanish). 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Nicole Donoso. "Del activismo religioso al gabinete: Judith Marín, the future Minister of Women seeking to redefine the ministry's role". El Desconcierto (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Judith Marín: faith, power and the open flank of the Ministry of Women". El Mostrador (in Spanish). 21 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Sebastián Palma (20 January 2026). ""Vuélvanse al señor": The day Judith Marín was removed from Congress for protesting against abortion". The Clinic (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ ""We are against abortion in all its forms": the profile of Judith Marín". 24 Horas (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Helen Mora (21 January 2026). "Judith Marín (PSC), the new Minister of Women: a staunch defender of life "from conception"". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ Samuel Fuentes (21 January 2026). "Judith Marín as future Minister of Women: Cariola called her an exorcist and Irarrázaval called for sorority". Radio Bío-Bío (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Social Christian Party denies "exorcism" of future Minister of Women". Radio Universo (in Spanish). 30 August 2025. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ^ "Resultados de elecciones para la Convención Constitucional, Municipales y Gobernadores 2021 | – Emol.com". www.emol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-01-24.
- ^ "Resultados de las Elecciones Regionales y Municipales 2024 | – Emol.com". www.emol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-01-24.
- ^ "Resultados de las Elecciones Presidenciales y Parlamentarias 2025 | – Emol.com". www.emol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-01-24.