Chile’s women and gender minister, a great-niece of the late dictator Augusto Pinochet, has resigned after just a month following a furious backlash to her appointment and a string of misssteps in office. Macarena Santelices stood down on Tuesday, tweeting: “The day it is understood that women’s rights are not political – that they belong to all and for all – we can move forward.” Before she was named minister in May, Santelices, had spoken positively of the “good side” of Pinochet’s regime, under which thousands of women were subjected to torture and almost all female political prisoners endured sexual violence. Once in office, she oversaw a string of controversial decisions, prompting the hashtag #WeDoNotHaveAMinister to trend in Chile. On Monday, she named Jorge Ruz – a former tabloid editor best known for working on a reality TV show in which women are judged in a swimsuit competition – to head the ministry’s research division. The Plurinational Feminist Assembly described the move as “unacceptable”, tweeting: “We demand her departure NOW.” Last month, the women’s ministry stirred controversy after launching a public service campaign against domestic violence, featuring a video in which an elderly man tearfully repented abusing his wife. Critics said it was overly sympathetic to abusers, and the ministry swiftly removed the video, admitting that the campaign “did not send the intended message”. Santelices, who describes herself a feminist, had condemned Chile’s forceful feminist groups for seeking “chaos and destruction”. The women’s ministry seat is held by rightwing party Independent Democratic Union, a part of the conservative coalition government led by President Sebastian Piñera. Santelices is replaced by Mónica Zalaquett, a former deputy who staunchly opposed Michelle Bachelet’s push to ease on the total abortion ban, and permit termination in instances of rape or if there is a risk to the life of the woman or foetus. In 2013, when abortion was still prohibited under all circumstances, Zalaquett applauded the bravery of an 11-year-old girl who gave birth after being denied abortion rights by the state. Women’s rights groups welcome the news of Santelices’ resignation, but the appointment of Zalaquett once again prompted the hashtag #WeDoNotHaveAMinister to trend.