What is left of the war?

Gabriel Borick’s victory in the presidential election in Chile raises the question of which leftist he represents. He was branded a “communist” by his critics and, in alliance with them, inspired a social democratic Europe for the “welfare state” he promoted.

In a country with strong social inequalities, 1% of the population is 25% wealthy, according to the ECLAC, Boric defeated the far-right Jose Antonio Caste, with the promise of expanding rights in health, pensions and education, maintained by the dictatorship traditionally maintained by the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). No guarantee.

The election campaign gave the impression to a large section of the population that the victory of the 35-year-old Abrew Dignity Coalition, which includes his party, the Broad Front and the Communist Party, threatens growth. Economic stability achieved over the past three decades.

“Rather than what is left-wing agenda in Latin America like Raphael Korea (in Ecuador), Hugo Chavez (in Venezuela) or Evo Morales (in Bolivia), Gabriel Borick really represents and is associated with the broader leading social democracy.

Silesula

In a highly polarized election campaign, Cast promised that the war’s plan would lead to the path of Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela, which defeated Chile, and the path of democracy threatened by either Castro, Cuba or Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua.

“The left only promotes poverty, and that poverty has dragged Venezuela, Nicaragua and Cuba, where people are fleeing, because that drug dictatorship only brings poverty and misery,” Cast accused at the end of the campaign.

The word “Silisuella” was coined by supporters of the far right in Chile. “This is typical of terrorist campaigns carried out mainly by the far right,” the educator added.

Borick has made it clear that neither Cuba nor Nicaragua are his models. In July, he pledged his solidarity not with the government but with the “Cuban people involved in the protest.”

In November, after Ortega’s fourth consecutive victory, he assured his government on Twitter that “dictatorships and dictatorships will not bother anyone.” “Nicaragua needs democracy, not fraudulent elections or harassment of opponents,” he said.

However, the insistence of his opponents that he is a “communist” has infiltrated some Chileans, although the Communists have in the past been allies in other ruling coalitions, including Michelle Bachelet (2014-2018).

The 53-year-old teacher, Maria Louisa Calculos, believes Chile would have been “Venezuela today” had it not been for Pinochet.

Experts consulted AFP Difference of opinion. “The image of Venezuela is very dangerous and there is little imagination about what Chile is,” confirmed Maria Cristina Escudero, a political science educator at the University of Chile.

Boric is not a communist. His political team is moving to understand that financial responsibility is important and that reforms to close social gaps must be gradual, long-term and financially sustainable, “said Francisco Castaneda, director of the Greater University School of Business.

In his first speech as president-elect to tens of thousands of people, Borik promised to expand social rights “with financial responsibility” and to “take care of our large economy.”

According to Castaneda, “the main danger is that he may succumb to many pressure groups and his policies in that regard may become unpopular.”

Uruguay or European Social Democracy

With the idea of ​​strengthening the state to expand social policies, Borik promises significant improvements in basic social rights, which will be financed with tax reform, which will increase tax collection by 5%.

It hopes to have faith in the new constitution that will be drawn up and that it will replace the current constitution inherited from dictatorship after a forced referendum.

According to Escudero, the Boric government is closely related to the social democracies in Europe or to the Uruguayan model, to set an example in Latin America.

“(Uruguay) is a small, stable country with a moderate development model, with a strong middle class and a strong state with high social equality,” he said.

After the historic rise of the Chilean peso and the fall of the Santiago Stock Exchange to more than 6% on Monday, Borick said he would soon redefine his cabinet and “give certainty” to the markets. When he takes office on March 11, the vice president and former student leader will become the youngest president in Chile history.