4 phrases from Gabriel Boric’s speech as president-elect of Chile (including his greeting in Mapuche)

It was difficult for him to get to the stage, but after jumping several hurdles Gabriel Boric he gave an emotional speech, his first as the country’s president-elect, before tens of thousands of supporters.

The leftist Boric He was imposed on the rightist Jose Antonio Kast with more than 11 percentage points of difference.

With more than 99.79% of the polls scrutinized, Boric adds 55.86% to 44.14% of closet, who was the winner in the first round on November 21.

A few minutes after the triumph of Boric, the streets of downtown Santiago and other major Chilean cities were filled with adherents honking horns and waving Chilean flags and the campaign of the leftist candidate, reported Fernanda Paul, special sent by BBC Mundo to Chile.

Y Boric, who spoke with the outgoing president, Sebastián Piñera, and with the closet, he finally gave his speech.

1 – The greeting in Mapuche and the recognition of the native peoples

“Thanks to all the peoples that inhabit the place called Chile. I want to start this historic moment, which is tremendously moving, thanking all the Chilean men and women who went to vote, honoring their commitment to democracy “, He said Boric, whose first words were in Mapuche.

The Mapuche conflict in the south of the country has been one of the major campaign issues and the greater recognition of Chile’s linguistic and cultural diversity was reflected historically in the vote of the members of the Constituent Convention.

2 – The power of women and of “dissidents”

“I want to thank the women of our country, who organized to defend the rights that have been so difficult for them to achieve (…) The right to vote, the right to decide on their own body (…) Count on us, you they will be protagonists of our government “

Boric campaigned for the defense of women’s rights against closet, who later moderated his speech and rectified it, in the first round he proposed abolishing the Ministry of Women, proposed giving subsidies only to married women and even limiting the current right to abortion.

The president-elect also made reference to the rights won by the “dissidence” and the “sexual diversities” of the country after closet He will also talk about the “gay dictatorship.”

“Non-discrimination and stopping violence will be fundamental in our government”, He said.

3- Consensus and realism

“Progress will require broad agreements, we do not want to lose ourselves or risk what each family has struggled with with their efforts”.

Boric evidenced the moderation he showed in the face of the second round, moving away from the radical changes that had scared many in the first round but committed to the reforms that the majority of Chileans have demanded since the social outbreak of 2019.

With a Congress without a left-wing majority, Boric He will have to negotiate with other sides to carry out the transformative agenda that he wants and for which 4.6 million Chileans voted for him.

“We must move responsibly with structural changes without leaving anyone behind; grow economically; convert what are for many consumer goods into social rights regardless of wallet size; and guarantee a quiet and safe life ”.

4- The new Constitution

“We will defend the constituent process, which is a source of world pride. It is the first time that we have written a Constitution in a democratic way. Let us take care of this process so that it is a Magna Carta the fruit of the agreement and not of the imposition “

Boric, Unlike closet, is in favor of the work of the Constituent Convention that in the second half of 2022 will propose a draft of the Magna Carta that must then be endorsed by the Chileans.

The Assembly is made up of a majority of the left and independents.

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