Gabriel Boric assumed this Friday the reins of the presidency of Chile. After his inauguration, the president became the youngest leader of this Latin American nation.
(Read here: Gabriel Boric assumes the reins of the presidency of Chile this Friday)
The triumph of this former student leader marks the end of the political alternation that had reigned in Chilean politics during the last 30 years.
Today, the new president has the enormous challenge of leading his country down the path of economic reactivation, reconciling a Chile deeply affected by the social unrest of 2019, and helping the country go through the institutional redesign that the Constitutional Convention advances.
Leandro Lima, Control Risks analyst for the Southern Cone, spoke with EL TIEMPO about the main challenges and priorities of the next government. Lima assured that “the expectations and fears about the Boric government are great and thus begins a new chapter in recent Chilean political history.”
What will be the priorities for the next Boric government?
Boric’s first priority will be the design of economic and social reforms that contemplate popular aspirations and mark the government as measures to reform the tax, pension and public health systems. These are very important issues in the public debate that Boric has identified as priorities.
In terms of political strategy, the key priority is the consolidation of his coalition and political alliances that will make the government viable, especially in Congress.
Managing the expectations for deep and rapid social transformations is the great challenge since Boric will have difficulties in Congress.
In addition, they are transformations that will take a long time to materialize. The question of the pension system is the main example. The current model is already very established and changing it will not be a simple or quick task.
What country receives today Gabriel Boric?
Boric receives a polarized country. In addition to political polarization, I highlight social polarization. The tensions between the local population and the migrant population in the north of the country are growing and can generate other episodes of violence, xenophobia and protest such as those we have seen in recent months.
In the south, conflicts between indigenous peoples and security forces and companies will continue. There are radical activists who will not accept negotiations with the government, even with Boric’s.
In economic terms, Boric receives a country that suffers from a crisis of confidence on the part of some foreign investors who fear the results of the constitutional process. Very disruptive proposals have been approved and the president will have to react to this situation since investment is essential for the economy at the same time that the constitutional process is key to bringing social peace to Chile.
How is it different from its predecessors?
Boric is different because his electoral victory was a direct consequence of the complex social scenario that emerged after the outbreak of October 2019. The popular aspiration for political renewal weakened the traditional parties and made possible the emergence of Boric, who represents a political sector that has never governed the country and defends a transformation of the Chilean economic and social model.
The expectations and fears about the Boric government are great and thus begins a new chapter in recent Chilean political history.
(In other news: Chile celebrates its first same-sex weddings)
Is his government expected to be of the center or to go more to the left, as his presidential aspiration originally began?
In political practice, the shift to the center-left is likely to remain. The composition of Congress is a challenge since Boric’s coalition does not reach majorities in either the House or the Senate.
This will require many negotiations and therefore concessions to obtain the support of other political sectors. Although the expectations for profound transformations are great, reality is going to prevail and Boric will not be able to fully implement his most ambitious proposals. The support of the left will not be enough to pass measures in Congress.
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