Kelly Portalatino is voiced as Hernán Condori's replacement in the Ministry of Health: “It would be an honor for me”

With 71 votes in favor, 32 against and 13 abstentions, the Congress of the Republic voted this Thursday to censor the Minister of Health, Hernán Condori. Now President Pedro Castillo, who has already been notified of the Legislative's decision, has 72 hours to accept the official's resignation.

One of the names that sounds strongly as a replacement for Condori is the Peru-Libre congresswoman, Kelly Portalatino. As you know, the legislator is from the so-called Cloerist faction, and it's no secret that outgoing Minister Condori was also recommended by the party leader, Vladimir Cerrón. Even the name of the parliamentarian sounded as the holder of Minsa before Condori took over, when the departure of Hernando Cevallos was already being voiced.

Two weeks ago, when she was interviewed on RPP, Portalatino responded like this when asked about the possibility of reaching Minsa. “I am not only a bachelor's degree in medicine, I am a collegiate, a doctor, I have been practicing human medicine for more than 10 years, I have a specialty in Public Management. If you give me a chance to carry that wallet, why not accept it. It would be an honor for me to give that representation and to vindicate to public health that today we have the first line of care in a poor state,” he said.

He took the opportunity to criticize former ministers Oscar Ugarte and Hernando Cevallos, who he assured caused damage to public health, because they maintained an outsourcing of health services in the midst of the pandemic.

In that same interview, he acknowledged that he has not received the formal proposal, but like any doctor who has the ability to carry this portfolio, “he would be in all faculties and with the experience of strengthening the portfolio that demands so much responsibility.”

It should be noted that Portalatino was one of the defenders for Condori to remain in office. Even this Thursday when he took the floor he said: “Today an issue of discrimination is becoming evident to a doctor from deep Peru. I'm going to give Dr. Condori the vote of confidence.”

WOULD HAVE DIVIDED SUPPORT

Kelly Portalatino would not have the road paved on her own bench. Especially since it became known that there are frictions between the cerronists and those of the teachers bloc. The latter decided to vote in abstention in Condori's censorship, disagreeing with the performance of the Minister of Health. This led to a crossover of words with party general secretary Vladimir Cerrón via Twitter.

It is precisely this faction of teachers that could be opposed to the possible appointment of Portalatino, due to its closeness to Cerrón.

The legislator Katy Ugarte, from the teachers bloc of Peru Libre, acknowledged on channel N that she is not happy in the ruling bench and said that it is time to make decisions.

On Condori's departure he said: “Although it was suggested to him that they make changes, they were not made. That weakens the president and we are not going to allow that. They were strong questions that arose within the Congress,” he said.

He pointed out that they will always be grateful to the party, but the people have voted for Pedro Castillo. Regarding his stay in Peru Libre, he said: “I don't feel comfortable, because we in the teachers block organize ourselves better, we meet, we are in constant analysis of politics, we are in constant communication. Surely there will be changes. This will lead us to make decisions. Possibly [leave Peru Free], because if there are no coincidences...”.

Meanwhile, his teammate, Elías Varas, stated that Condori's replacement should be well evaluated, it must be a person who collects the scrolls. About Kelly Portalatino, he said without giving any further details that “since the Medical College of Peru invalidated it, our order because I am also a doctor, already had a bad start”.

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