Chilean President Bachelet sacks cabinet

The Chilean President Michelle Bachelet has announced a surprise cabinet reshuffle amid a collapse in her popularity.

Speaking to a local TV station she said: “A few hours ago I requested the resignation of all the ministers and I will take 72 hours to decide who will stay and who will go.”

A series of corruption scandals have hit several politicians in the South American country relating to illicit campaign funding.

A scandal involving the president related to a bank loan and lucrative land deal that benefited her daughter-in-law.

Bachelet maintains that she knew nothing about the loan but says she made “important mistakes” in not returning from holiday sooner or commenting on the case in a timely way.

The cabinet reshuffle has given her a boost, within her own party at least, as many showed public support for the move.