Gabriel Boric: what does the transformative agenda with which he reaches the presidency of Chile consists

It was an incontestable victory.

With an unexpected difference of almost 12 percentage points, the leftist Gabriel Boric He prevailed over his rival, the radical right-wing lawyer Jose Antonio Kast, in the elections this Sunday.

With the 36 years that he will be when he assumes the presidency on March 11, he will become the youngest president in the history of the country, the first to trace his votes in the ballot and the first who does not belong to any of the traditional parties who have ruled the country since the return to democracy in 1990.

With the highest electoral turnout since the 2013 presidential election (which was the first with a voluntary vote), Boric represents a generation of young politicians who, unhappy with the evolution of the country in the last three decades, promise to advance towards a State of well-being with a strong social agenda.

A government program that includes measures such as increasing taxes on the wealthiest and large companies, ending the current pension system and transforming the health system.

All this in the context of a crucial 2022 for the country: it will have new president, new Congress and, if approved, a new Constitution.

It is an ambitious plan that reflects many of the demands of the social outbreak that began in October 2019, when thousands of people took to the streets demanding greater equality in a country that in recent decades has operated with a free market model qualified by his detractors as “unfair” with the less favored sectors.

The profound transformations that the president-elect wants to implement will face great challenges such as, for example, governing without a majority in Congress, maintaining the support of the electoral coalition that brought him to power, establishing a bridge for dialogue with the business community, and navigating the economic slowdown expected for 2022 and 2023.

These are some of the main points on his transformative agenda, according to his electoral program.

Tax reform

Boric proposes to increase tax collection by 5% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in four years to finance social reforms, under a commitment to “fiscal responsibility” and gradual implementation of the changes.

The plan contemplates raising taxes on the super-rich, companies, fuels and establishing a royalty to mining companies, as well as lower consumption tax (VAT).

Pensions

Boric had originally promised to end the current system of Pension Systems Administrators (AFP), although in the face of the ballot, he said he was willing to discuss this point.

“No to the AFPs!” His supporters shouted during the speech this Sunday night.

In any case, its objective is to carry out a profound reform that contemplates a new public and mixed system managed by an autonomous public institution.

The proposal also includes, among other measures, gradually creating a Universal Basic Pension (PBU).

Health

Phasing out the current Isapres system (private health insurance). These would be transformed into voluntary supplementary insurance.

Create a Universal Health Fund (FUS) that finances health care in public and private centers. Increase public spending on health by 1.5% of GDP.

“We want to turn consumer goods into social rights regardless of the size of the wallet,” Boric said in his speech.

Job

Gradually reduce the working day to reach 40 hours per week.

Increase the minimum wage in a staggered manner. Provide subsidies for the hiring of women and young people.

Migration

Create a regular, orderly and safe migration policy that respects international covenants and has a human rights approach.

Register the undocumented and evaluate their situation on a case-by-case basis. Improve the settlement conditions of migrants and ensure the well-being of the communities where they come to live.

Education

Strengthen public education, improve teachers’ working conditions, universal cancellation of educational debts through a long-term payment scheme by the State, create a new single credit system that will be temporary, until universal gratuity is achieved. . It would be public, supportive, without interest and without the participation of the banks.

Human rights

Create a Permanent Qualifying Commission to review the cases of rights violations and victims of homicides, torture and disappearances that occurred during the military regime of Augusto Pinochet.

Implement an effective national plan to search for detained and disappeared persons.

“Respect for human rights is an unwavering commitment of our government. We will never, for any reason, have a president who declares war on his own people,” said Boric on Sunday night, who promised “to seek truth, justice, repair and no repetition “.

Establish comprehensive reparation for all people whose human rights were violated during the social outbreak and support the bill of pardon for those who “unjustifiably” remain deprived of liberty.

It also provides for the re-founding of Carabineros to reinforce subordination to the civil power, a legal regulation of the use of force and training in human rights.

Security

Create the Ministry of Security, Civil Protection and Citizen Coexistence.

Create a structural reform of the Carabineros de Chile.

Create a Prosecutor’s Office with supraterritorial powers to prosecute complex crimes, such as drug trafficking, money laundering and corruption.

Urban intervention in territories where drug trafficking and violence are concentrated.

New weapons and ammunition control system.

Araucanía (zone of conflict with indigenous peoples in the south of the country)

Territorial restitution that includes the issue of ancient lands and access to natural assets to facilitate the exercise of their right to autonomy.

Create an Intercultural Truth and Historical Clarification Commission that proposes comprehensive reparation measures.

Replace the “Antiterrorist Law” with a new regulation that protects democratic life in accordance with international human rights standards.

living place

Plan to lower the price of housing.

Housing Emergency Plan to reduce the current deficit by 40%

Build 260,000 decent homes to reduce the housing deficit

Implement a land policy for housing purposes

Gender

Guarantee access to contraception in primary health care.

Establish a comprehensive, inclusive and non-sexist sexual education model.

Promote a law to guarantee the voluntary interruption of pregnancy as a guaranteed health benefit.

“I want to thank the women of our country, who organized to defend the rights that it has cost them so much to achieve (…) The right to vote, the right to decide about their own body (…) Count on us, you they will be protagonists of our government, “he said this Sunday.

Promote a Comprehensive Law on Gender Violence.

Create a National LGBTIAQ + Social Rights plan and allow the change of name and sex from the age of 14.

Climate change

Transformation of environmental institutions, adapting it to the current situation of water scarcity and the climate crisis.

Implement a National Water Security Policy that guarantees the human right to water and sanitation, with a focus on the protection and restoration of ecosystems.

Define a roadmap to face the climate crisis and sign the Escazú Agreement.

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