The Latin American left celebrates the “democratic” triumph of Chilean Boric

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The Latin American left, which adds Chile to the group of countries in the region that have recently turned towards that political tendency -along with Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico, and Peru-, celebrated the triumph this Sunday of far-left Congressman Gabriel Boric, who with more than 99% of the counted tables won the presidential elections in Chile.

The 35-year-old former student leader, who strengthened his political leadership during the social protests that the country faced in 2019, won with 55.8% of the votes and by more than 10 points of difference to the religious conservative José Antonio Kast, who immediately acknowledged the defeat.

One of the first to congratulate him was former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, favorite to win next year’s elections in Brazil, who celebrated the victory of another “progressive” in Latin America.

“I congratulate comrade Gabriel Boric for his election as president of Chile,” wrote on his social networks Lula, who in the October 2022 elections aims to displace the conservative Jair Bolsonaro from power.

“I am happy for the victory of a democratic and progressive candidate in our Latin America, for the construction of a better future for all,” Lula added.

Shortly before, the Workers’ Party (PT), led by the former Brazilian President, had also congratulated Boric: “Victory of Gabriel Boric in Chile! Latin America is recovering sovereignty and hope; long live Chile!

For his part, the President of Peru, Pedro Castillo, assured that Boric’s victory “is that of the Chilean people”. In his Twitter account, the also far-leftist Castillo, who assumed the presidency of that country last July representing the Marxist party Peru Libre, added that this is a triumph shared by “the Latin American peoples” who want “to live with freedom, peace, justice, and dignity”.

“Great good news from Chile!!!” wrote in turn, also on Twitter, the Mexican Foreign Minister, Marcelo Ebrard.

The Argentine President, Alberto Fernández, congratulated the incoming Chilean President by telephone. He said he was “pleased” and told him that the region needs us to “work together”.

“I wish you the best for you and Chile. Here you have a friend, and you are invited to come to Argentina whenever you want, and hopefully, your first trip will be to our country”, added Fernández.

The President of Bolivia, Luis Arce, joined the list of left-wing leaders who expressed their satisfaction with Boric’s election and considered that “Latin American democracy is strengthened”.

“We salute the electoral triumph of @gabrielboric, which is the triumph of the Chilean people. Latin American democracy is strengthened based on unity, respect, and, above all, the will of our peoples,” Arce wrote on Twitter.

Boric’s victory aroused interest in Bolivia for what could represent a new stage in the complex bilateral relations due to the ideological affinity with Arce’s government and his party, the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS).

REMEMBERING THE FIGURE OF ALLENDE

“I salute the people of Salvador Allende and Victor Jara for their resounding victory over fascism,” said Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in a tweet.

A figure that of the overthrown Chilean President Allende (1970-1973) was also remembered this day by another leftist leader of the region, the President of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega: “With respect and joy we salute his historic triumph, achieved with the brave Chilean people, inspired by the ever-present legacy of the president of the dignity, Salvador Allende, and of so many heroes and martyrs of that great people”.

“We wish your government and Chile as a whole, paths of progress in certain hopes, creating the changes that are proposed, injustice and peace”, added the former Sandinista guerrilla, who however has been criticized by Boric, who has pointed him out of establishing a “family authoritarianism” in Nicaragua.

And in the social networks, there was also a message from the former progressive Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa, who also remembered Allende in his Twitter account: “… much sooner than later, the great avenues will open where the free man will pass to build a better society”.

The congratulations of the Latin American left were joined from Europe by the President of the Government of Spain, the socialist Pedro Sanchez: “Congratulations Gabriel Boric for your victory in the presidential elections in Chile. The Chilean people are moving forward with hope towards a more just, feminist and ecological future”.

“Our countries will continue to reinforce their relations, strengthening the ties between Latin America and the EU,” he added.

RECOGNITION FROM OTHER LEADERS

But not only leftist leaders recognized Boric’s triumph. Through Twitter, the President of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, recognized the election of the standard-bearer of the Frente Amplio and the Communist Party and wished him “success for the good of the Chilean people”.

Boric, who obtained more than 4.6 million votes out of the more than 8.3 million voters who went to the polls, also received congratulations from the Ecuadorian President, Guillermo Lasso.

After highlighting the democratic attitude of the religious conservative José Antonio Kast for recognizing his defeat in the ballot, he sent a “fraternal greeting to the Chilean people, who today elected their new president Gabriel Boric. Success in his administration for the welfare of his people”.