Trinidad Steinert
Trinidad Steinert | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Public Security | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| President | José Antonio Kast |
| Preceded by | Luis Cordero Vega |
| Regional Prosecutor of Tarapacá Region | |
| In office 16 February 2024 – 18 January 2026 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 August 1970 |
| Party | Independent |
| Alma mater | Central University |
| Occupation | Lawyer • Prosecutor • Politician |
María Trinidad Steinert Herrera (born 7 August 1970) is a Chilean lawyer and prosecutor who served as Regional Prosecutor (Fiscal Regional) of Tarapacá from February 2024 until her resignation in January 2026.[1][2]
In January 2026, President-elect José Antonio Kast named her as future minister of public security (Ministra de Seguridad Pública) in his incoming cabinet, ahead of his inauguration on 11 March 2026.[3][4]
Her work at the Public Ministry of Chile has focused on the prosecution of organized crime and related offences, including cases linked to irregular migration and human trafficking in northern Chile.[1][5]
Biography
Steinert studied law at the Central University of Chile and qualified as an attorney before the Supreme Court of Chile. She later completed a master's degree in Chilean criminal procedure reform (Reforma Procesal Penal) at the same institution.[1]
In 2021, she joined the Public Ministry in the Arica y Parinacota Region as a deputy prosecutor (fiscal adjunta), working on cases connected to irregular migration, human trafficking, and transnational organized crime.[1]
On 16 February 2024, she assumed office as Regional Prosecutor of Tarapacá, based in Iquique.[1][6]
On 20 January 2026, President-elect José Antonio Kast announced Steinert as his choice to lead the Ministry of Public Security in the government due to take office on 11 March 2026. She resigned from the Public Ministry shortly before the announcement.[3][2][4]
References
- ^ a b c d e "Trinidad Steinert Herrera". Fiscalía de Chile (in Spanish). Ministerio Público de Chile. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Fiscal de Tarapacá renuncia a su cargo: su nombre suena fuerte como ministra de Seguridad de Kast". BioBioChile (in Spanish). 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Trinidad Steinert: el salto olímpico de la Fiscalía al Ministerio de Seguridad". El Mostrador (in Spanish). 20 January 2026. Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ a b "Chile's Kast names Quiroz finance minister, taps Pinochet defenders for cabinet". Reuters. 21 January 2026. Retrieved 24 January 2026.
- ^ "Lideró investigación contra Tren de Aragua: Trinidad Steinert es la nueva ministra de Seguridad de Kast". 24 Horas (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2026.
- ^ "Fiscalía Regional de Tarapacá". Fiscalía de Chile (in Spanish). Ministerio Público de Chile. Retrieved 21 January 2026.