The communist leader Jeannette Jara It was comfortably imposed on the primaries of the Chilean left overlooking the presidentials of November 16. The former minister of Gabriel Boric’s government’s workpromoter at the time of the law of the 40 hours that has allowed him to gain in popularity, obtained 60.19% of the votesmore than half of those received by the former minister from the interior, Carolina Tohá, daughter of a historic prisoner of the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet in the concentration camp of the island of Dawson. “When in our country the center -left, workers, pensioners and women improve their rights,” said Jara, 51. The ultra -rightist José Antonio Kastfavorite of conservative space for the elections, rubbed his hands this Sunday, convinced that polarization with a presidential candidate of the PC benefits his aspirations.
“For us are sad, disappointing results”said Tohá, the representative of social democracy. The former minister ratified the decision of Lto moderate left of accompanying Jara. “We are committed to a pact that we are obviously going to comply, not only in the form, but in the background. She transforms into the candidate of the left and We will work loyally so that this candidacy offers the country the best possible project to compete. “
Analysts agree that Jara’s victory has Historical character. Daughter of a housewife and a mechanic that claims its origin of the “real Chile”, different from “those people who were born in the elite”, the flag berogee of the heterogeneous progressive space gives for the first time to the PC a leadership place since 1990, when the country recovered the institutional path. Socialists and communists were allies during the government of Salvador Allende. After the coup they shared the same fight against the regime but over the years they bifurcar, to the point that the PC was not part of the alliance that allowed to defeat Pinochet in the plebiscite of 1988. It was only integrated into a center -left government in the second presidency of Michelle BacheleT, in 2013. From that moment, that party began to have greater popular insertion. Jara, lawyer and magister in public management, is part of a generational renewal that is not accepted by the entire party. It is critical of political processes in Venezuela and Cuba. The first was described as “authoritarian” and requested a resolution of the internal conflict “without foreign intervention.” About the island he recognized “human rights violations.” These positions enervate the older and greater attachment to Caracas and Havana, who warned them that they will not form their government to reach the Palace of La Moneda.
Boric’s legacy It has been questioned in these primaries. Gonzalo Winter, from the Broad Front, his natural space, reaped 9% of the accessions. Jaime Mulet, of the Greens, less than the three points. More than 15 million people were in a position to participate in this internal election. They only did 10%. When Boric defeated the communist Daniel Jadue in primary, they lifted 1.7 million. In 2013, the year that Bachelet won the Christian Democrat Claudio Orrego, did more than two million citizens.
Challenges ahead
Jara feels close to Bachelet’s figure. The comparisons are not disturbed. It is now it’s up to multiple effect responsibility. On the one hand, allow the PC to occupy a space in the Chilean political sky that was elusive Since the fall of Popular Unity, in 1973. On the other, you must prevent the center of left beyond the words of Tohá. But, above all, to prevent ultra -right from getting to power in November or the second turn of January.
Primary has turned on an alert light. Participation has been low and can be early General disinterest symptom facing the presidential elections. The former minister seems to be in that sense aware of what awaits him in the electoral campaign and has begun to define an opening tone. “We are diversebut it unites us a common center -left trunk, “he said and promised to govern” not only those who vote for me or those who are in this primary, but also those who are disappointed, or angry or annoying. “
The president of the Christian democracy, Alberto Undurraga, He already let his disappointment know with the results of primary school. “Center and center -left people run out of representation For the next presidential elections for now and that is what changes the political scenario as of today. “Analysts argue that the danger of a Kast victory will force that center to look for at least one minimum agreement with Jara. The staunch pinochetist, son of a Nazi ex -official, takes more than 10 points to his main rival, Evelyn Matthei.
