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The president-elect of the southern country, Gabriel Boric, visited the Palacio de La Moneda on December 20 to hold a first meeting with the outgoing president, Sebastián Piñera. During the visit, both personalities exchanged opinions on the pension system, the economy, the pandemic and human rights, among other topics.
Gabriel Boric’s first commitment, after winning the second electoral round of the Chilean presidential elections with 55.8% of the votes, was to quickly consolidate a government cabinet that grants “certainties” to the citizens.
“We are aware that it is important for the country to grant certainties. We are going to act accordingly, at this time we do not have names that can be made public,” said the former student leader at a press conference at the seat of government after his meeting with the current president.
Regarding the formation of the cabinet, Boric was cautious and only limited himself to offering a first guideline by indicating that he hopes to form the Executive before January 22, the date on which Sebastián Piñera announced the names of the people who would accompany him at the beginning. of his second term.
Gabriel Boric: “Women will be protagonists”
At La Moneda, Boric was accompanied by two of his main collaborators: his campaign manager, Izkia Siches, and his political boss, Giorgio Jackson, people who, according to Chilean media, could be part of the new cabinet.
The elected president reserved names in his first public event after having been the winner in the country’s presidential elections. According to the EFE news agency, this cabinet could be the most leftist in the southern nation since that of Salvador Allende.
“We will do everything possible to make the processes quick and carry out a process of checking and cross-checking, it is important not to be wrong because Chile’s trust and vision towards the world are at stake. We will make efforts to do so as soon as possible”, said the former student leader.
What Boric did make clear is that he does not expect to back down in terms of the parity criterion within the makeup of his cabinet: “women will be protagonists,” he said. He also pointed out that he has held discussions with the parties that supported him and that the appointment process would not be “a logic of quotas” or “imposition.”
Piñera: “we will provide you with all the support for an easy transition”
After the meeting, Sebastián Piñera expressed his support for the young leader, who will assume the reins of the country in March 2022, and indicated that he will offer him everything necessary to achieve a transition to a “republican” mode.
“We congratulate him on yesterday’s democratic victory and wish him the best of success in his future government. We have given him all our support to make the democratic transition of power with ease” and “efficiency,” said Piñera.
Among the topics discussed were the transition, the management of the economy, the Covid-19 pandemic, the importance of the continuity of international relations and the judicial processes against security agents for alleged human rights violations. during the social outbreak of October 2019.
Regarding the Covid-19 outbreak, Boric pointed out that he spoke with Piñera about the management of the crisis, the vaccination process and “the application of a possible fourth dose” that is already in process. He also showed his willingness to maintain the current government’s health policies against the pandemic.
“There are issues that go beyond a current government, so if things are being done well, let’s continue doing them well. In this regard, experience is important and we will discuss it in due course,” he said.
Today, we visit the Palacio de La Moneda, at the invitation of President Piñera. When I was in front of Salvador Allende’s bust, I thought about those who, like him, were before us. Your dreams of a better Chile are the ones that we will continue to build together with all of you. pic.twitter.com/iTZQXSnVaC
– Gabriel Boric Font (@gabrielboric) December 20, 2021
Regarding the investigations and judicial processes of victims of police abuse during the 2019 protests, Boric assured that he will work on truth and reparation processes.
“We have talked with the families and one of our priorities in the government is going to be that there is truth, justice, reparation and, by the way, non-repetition. In Chile, unfortunately and despite the efforts that were made, there is still so much impunity for crimes in dictatorship like today regarding the serious human rights violations due to the outbreak, “said Boric.
Economic stability, among Boric’s main challenges
The meeting comes just when in the country the dollar reached its highest historical value, with an exchange rate of 875 pesos per dollar, at the same time that the values of the main shares in the stock market plummeted after Boric’s triumph.
In this sense, the still representative for the Magallanes region tried to calm the markets, something he was doing during the last days of the campaign, and reiterated that the country will advance in structural reforms but “step by step”.
“It is something that I maintain, it was not an electoral strategy, but rather it is a conviction, Chile must have clear accounts and an orderly macroeconomy, because if not the reforms that can be made end up regressing,” said Boric, who has promised to lead Chile towards a welfare state similar to that of Europe with reforms that give greater weight to the state in the national economy.
With EFE, Reuters and local media
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