Gabriel Boric, the former activist of the anti-government student movement of the 2010s, claimed a decisive 56% victory over the ultra-conservative Catholic and admirer of the dictatorship of Pinochet’s opponent, Antonio Cast, in the second round of the X elections.
Jumping over the guardrails in the early hours of Monday, immediately after the announcement of the result, Gabriel Boric from Patagonia took the stage in the central square of Santiago.
Boric chose to start his speech in the language of the indigenous Mapuche of Chile, emphasizing the unifying character of his victory and thanking his opponents by name, including the Cast. The defeated far-right candidate immediately accepted the result.
Boric came to the forefront of politics at a young age as a leader in student protests for free high-level public education in 2011. After two terms in Congress, he ran for the presidency, recruiting many of his former opposition comrades to his campaign team.
Boric’s ambitious program, which moved a large portion of young voters, focuses on social justice, tackling chronic inequality, creating a welfare state, protecting the environment and feminism. After defeating his communist opponent in the July primary, Boric announced his intention to end the neoliberal economic and social political legacy of the dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet, who remained in power from 1973 until 1990.
Boric was sharply criticized for the ambitious reforms he announced, with the right describing them as impossible and economically dangerous. During the election campaign, Antonio Cast accused Boric of irresponsibility and submission to the demands of the Communist Party.
The winner of the election had committed in the run-up to the election to impose new taxes on large assets as well as proportionally on all wallets with the aim of tax revenues to reach 5% of GDP by the end of his four-year term.
Boric, who will take office on March 11, tried to reassure those concerned during his victory night speech, promising to pursue a fiscally responsible policy.
Outgoing conservative President Sebastian Pinera sent a video message to Boric saying, “I’m sure you will give your best. But we must always know how to combine youthful vigor and idealism with the experience of white hair.”
