Kast “is only going to bring instability, more hatred and violence” to Chile, says Boric

Leftist presidential candidate Gabriel Boric said Thursday in closing his campaign that his rival in Sunday’s ballot, José Antonio Kast, “is only going to bring instability, more hatred and violence” to Chile.

“We are the heirs of those who have fought to make Chile a more just and dignified country,” said Boric in a massive ceremony.

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In Almagro Park, a few blocks from the presidential palace of La Moneda, Boric closed his campaign for the second round with some 20,000 attendees, in which he will face the far-right José Antonio Kast, with a very narrow result, according to polls.

In the first round on November 21, Kast won with 27.9% of the votes. Boric, who at the age of 35 reaches the minimum age to run for President, came in second place, with 25.8% of the vote.

Boric is part of the I Approve Dignity coalition, which brings together the Broad Front – of which he is a part – and the Communist Party. In this second round, he managed to align all the parties behind his figure from the center to the left.

In front of his adherents, the candidate listed the main promises of change in his campaign and attacked the program and the figure of his opponent.

“Does anyone believe that a person like him could really bring order to this country? It is only going to bring instability, more hatred and violence. Our path is another, “said Boric amidst a massive ovation.

A supporter of Chilean presidential candidate Gabriel Boric holds up a doll with his image during his campaign closing rally in Santiago, Chile. (Photo: REUTERS / Rodrigo Garrido). (RODRIGO GARRIDO /)

“The Kast program is really worrying. Kast’s show is really violent; it is violence against women, it is violence against indigenous peoples, it is violence with diversity and it is violent against the human rights of all, “added the candidate.

Boric promised to establish 40 hours of work per week (versus the current 45), promote “green development”, create 500,000 jobs for women and a national care system. Also a substantive change to the private pension and health system, so that there will never be discrimination between rich and poor again.

“Our path is peace. To rediscover Chile we need social justice and not violence. There is no clearer formula for instability than leaving everything as it is, than in what José Antonio Kast ultimately proposes, “said Boric, calling his opponent – who was closing his campaign in a wealthy neighborhood in eastern Santiago – as heir of Pinochetism.

“We are going to make the changes that Chile needs despite those who oppose it, because Chile has been demanding it for many years,” the candidate closed.

A former student leader, Boric jumped into politics at age 27, when he became a deputy.

Boric was born in the southern city of Punta Arenas, 3,000 km south of Santiago, into a middle-class family of Croatian and Catalan great-grandparents. He is the oldest of three siblings and emigrated to Santiago to study law at the University of Chile, but has not yet graduated.

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