Gabriel Borick promised to unite Chile, fight “the privileges of the few” and confront poverty and inequality. Won a decisive victory Became the youngest prime minister of a South American country than his far-right rival.
The 35-year-old left-wing student leader won 56% of the vote in Sunday’s second round of the presidential election, beating his staunch conservative opponent, Jose Antonio Cast, by 44.2%.
The victory of the war by a generation of deeply opposed Serious economic model The Pinochet was given to Chile by the dictatorship, and two years later the metro fare was raised It provoked great protests and demands for drastic change To the political and economic system.
The president-elect, who will take office on March 11, said the time had come for a radical change in the Chilean community and its economy.
“Men and women of Chile, I humbly and responsibly accept this mandate because we stand on the shoulders of the giants,” he told a large crowd in Santiago Boulevard.
“I know our country’s future is in jeopardy next year. That is why I want to promise that I will be a president who defends democracy, a president who listens more than he speaks, who loves unity, who cares about the daily needs of the people, and who fights hard. The benefits of working every day for Chilean families. “
Borick said his generation wanted to respect their rights and should not be treated “like consumer goods or trade” and that the country would no longer allow the Chilean poor to “continue to pay the price” of inequality.
He added: “The future is not going to be easy … Only through social solidarity, renewal and sharing of common ground can we move towards truly sustainable development – which will reach every Chile.”
The new prime minister said he would “be president of all Chile … and serve all.”
He also highlighted the progressive positions initiated by Borik His impossible campaign, Including the promise to combat the climate crisis by blocking the proposed mining project in the world’s largest copper-producing country.
He called for an end to Chile’s private pension system – a symbol of the neoliberal economic model imposed by Augusto Pinochet.
Borick thanked each candidate – including Cost – and reaffirmed his commitment to Chile’s constitutional process, a key point for many as the country begins this latest chapter at a turbulent time.
The new administration is likely to be closely watched throughout Latin America, where Chile has long been a precursor to regional trends.
It was the first country in South or Central America to break with American hegemony during the Cold War and elect Salvador Allende in 1970 to pursue socialism. Three years later, when Pinochet’s coup reached the stage of right – wing military rule, it was reversed. Soon a free market trial began across the region.
Closet He won the first round of voting on November 21 By 2 percentage points, but Borik was able to win Sunday by expanding beyond his base in Santiago and attracting voters in the countryside. In the north of Antofagasta, he finished third in the first round of voting, beating Boric Cost by almost 20 points.
Ghosts and old factions returned to hunt for the bitter fighting campaign, during which Cast – With a history of defending military dictatorship – Attempted to caricature his rival as a puppet of Communist Party allies promoting the most stable, developed economy in Latin America.
However, the cast unexpectedly showed generosity in the defeat. After he tweeted a photo of his opponent congratulating him on his “massive victory,” he went to Borik’s campaign headquarters to see the new president. Cast, a father of nine, added: “Gabriel Borick can count on us.”
Chile’s outgoing president, Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinara, attended a video conference with Bori and offered his government’s full support during the three – month transition.
In the subway of Santiago, the flash point for the 2019 protests, young supporters of the war were waving flags engraved with the candidate’s name and jumping and shouting as they marched into the city center for his victory speech.
“This is a historic day,” said author Boris Soto. “We have defeated not only fascism and the right, but also fear.”
On a tumultuous day in Chile, voting was hampered by public transportation difficulties across the country, although the government said it had done everything it could to guarantee voters would go to the polls.
Turnout – 1.2 million more people than in the first round – was nearly 56%, the highest level since voting was compulsorily stopped nine years ago.
Boric was Chile’s youngest modern president at the time of his inauguration, and after El Salvador’s Naib Bukele, the second millennial to head to Latin America. Giacomo Simoncini is the only junior in the European city-state of San Marino.
“The historic vote will not go unnoticed by Cast’s willingness to acknowledge and congratulate his opponent before the final results, and the generous words of President Pinara,” said Cynthia Arsen, head of the Latin America program. Wilson Center Thinktank in Washington.
“Democracy in Chile won today, of course.”
Markets were less volatile on Monday as the Chilean peso fell and its dollar-denominated stock index fell 10%. The 2% decline in the peso has been almost 20% since the Chileans elected a Constituent Assembly, dominated by left – wing and independent representatives, in May to reshape the country’s market – based constitution.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report
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