Following an extraordinary session of the Plenary of the Constitutional Court (TC), Justice Daniela Marzi was elected as the new president of the body. Marzi, although without formal party affiliation, is close to the ruling party and the feminist movement in the country.
Nancy Yanez, who currently heads the Constitutional Court, will remain in office until July 12, when Marzi will officially assume the presidency.
Daniela Marzi, appointed as a judge of the Constitutional Court in May 2022 by President Gabriel Boric, is a lawyer graduated from the University of Valparaíso and holds a Master’s degree in Labor Law from the University of Bologna, as well as a PhD in Law from the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Prior to joining the Constitutional Court, her career was closely linked to academia and the promotion of gender equality. She was director of the Gender Equality and Diversity Unit at the University of Valparaíso, and her academic contribution includes the chapter “Feminism and work, two explosions of the 20th century” in the book “Studies on women’s work.”
In 2021, Marzi addressed the intersection between feminism and labor law in a seminar organized by the Network of Feminist Professors of Labor and Social Security Law. Her teaching work has spanned various institutions, including the Universidad Austral, the University of Talca and the University of Valparaíso. In addition, she has been a trusted translator for the Italian Consulate in Chile.
Nancy Yánez, the current president of the TC, was also appointed by the current Head of State. She is a lawyer from the University of Chile, with a master’s degree in International Human Rights Law from the University of Notre Dame and a doctorate in Law from the University of Chile. Her succession by Marzi promises continuity in her management close to the ruling party.
It is worth mentioning that, in 2022, President Boric appointed both Yáñez and Fuenzalida as ministers of the Constitutional Court. In a statement, the Executive reported that it is “the first time that a President has appointed two outstanding female professionals – at the same time – as members of this body.”
