The government of Gabriel Boric begins today in Chile, the youngest president in the history of the country – he just turned 36 – and the representative of a left that emerged with the student movement of 2011 and then with social protests against the profound inequalities that erupted in October 2019. A peculiarity of the first months of his mandate will be the coexistence with the constituent assembly, which is working intensively to present a proposal for a constitution. At least until now, the new charter would significantly change the Chilean institutional structure that dates back to the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.
Time runs fast and the assembly, which took office last summer, will dissolve on July 4th, as required by law. The body is composed of seven thematic commissions which must write their proposals, approve them by simple majority and then present them to the plenary assembly, where they must be approved by two thirds of the constituents. The final text will then be submitted to a referendum, probably next September. Among the articles approved so far are those that recognize the political, economic and administrative autonomy of the various indigenous regions and territories.
The fate of Boric’s presidency, its success or failure, is closely linked to that of the constituent, where people close to the left are the majority, even among the independents. The new president will also have to deal with the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, with the migratory pressure in the north of the country, which has given rise to racist and xenophobic episodes especially in the northern city of Iquique, and with the Mapuche conflict in the region of ‘ Araucanía, in the south of the country. Without neglecting of course the issues related to human rights and the violations committed during the protests of 2019, in particular by the police force of the carabinieriof which many Boric voters are calling for structural reform.
Looking for a balance
There are high expectations for his government, especially those of a movement that before the start of the pandemic had taken to the streets to protest against the profound inequalities in the country and to demand a reform of health, education and the social security system in the hands of the private. Boric will have to be able to balance the demands of a profound renewal with those of many other Chileans and Chileans who did not vote for him and fear his presidency. As the journalist Cristian Ascencio wrote, for the president one of the most difficult tasks “will be to find a balance between those who expect radical changes, in tune with the spirit of renewal of the protests of October 2019, and those who want to build a more fair but does not condemn the economic opening towards the world. Without this meaning creating an omnipotent state apparatus ”.
Meanwhile, Boric has already shown that he is sensitive to the climate crisis and to gender issues, clearly distancing himself from a populist and authoritarian left that rules in other countries in the region, in particular from Venezuela and Nicaragua. According to some commentators, his presidency will come close to that of José “Pepe” Mujica in Uruguay, with progressive policies that respect the institutions. Another certain fact is that his government, made up more of women than men, will have a clear feminist imprint: “What I want to ask, especially the men on my team, is to take this matter seriously,” said the president a few days before taking office. “Being part of a feminist government means changing the way we relate to things and how we look at the world.”
The ministry for women and gender equality will be led by journalist and activist Antonia Orellana, 32, who worked in the Red Chilena conta la violencia hacia las mujeres, an organization that fights against violence against women. With the Chilean president Orellana you have long shared the political passion and militancy, as well as being both part of a small party, Convergencia social, which less than a year ago managed to collect the necessary signatures for Boric’s presidential candidacy. Regarding the situation of women in Chile, Orellana said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper El País that the country is experiencing a profound contradiction, because on the one hand women have access to important positions, but on the other these spaces of power and privileges they concern only a minority of people. One goal of this government, she believes, will be “to open a dialogue window through which women of different ages and different social and cultural backgrounds can collaborate to achieve concrete results”. Thus demonstrating that activism does not stop at the moment of protest, but translates into changes.
That’s a good place to start.