How the Latin American Left Celebrated Gabriel Boric’s “Democratic” Triumph in the Chilean Elections

The Latin American left, which adds to Chile to the group of countries in the region that have turned towards this political trend recently – along with Argentina, Bolivia, Honduras, Mexico and Peru -, celebrated the triumph of the deputy this Sunday 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, prevailed with 55.8% of the votes and by more than 10 points of difference over the far-right José Antonio Kast, who immediately he acknowledged defeat.

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

“I congratulate the colleague Gabriel Boric for his election as president of Chile”, wrote in his social networks Lula, who in the October 2022 elections intends to displace far-right 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”, added Lula.

Shortly before, the Workers Party (PT), led by the former Brazilian president, had also congratulated Boric: “Gabriel Boric’s victory 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 leftist Castillo, who assumed the presidency of that country last July on behalf of 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 next Chilean president by phone, to whom he said he was “very happy” and told him that the region needs us “to work together.”

“I wish the best for you and for 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 ”, Fernandez added.

The president of Bolivia, Luis Arce, he joined the list of leftist leaders who expressed their approval with the election of Boric and considered that this “strengthens Latin American democracy.”

“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 “, wrote Arce and Twitter.

The victory of Boric arouses interest in Bolivia Therefore, it could represent a new stage in the difficult bilateral relations due to the ideological affinity with the Government of Arce and its party, the Movement for Socialism (MAS).

REMEMBERING THE FIGURE OF ALLENDE

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

A figure, that of the ousted Chilean president Allende (1970-1973), who was also remembered this day by another of the leftist leaders 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 dignity, Salvador Allende, and of so many heroes and martyrs of that great people.”

“We wish your Government and Chile everything, paths of advance in certain hopes, creating the changes that are proposed, in justice and peace”, added the former Sandinista guerrilla, who nevertheless has been criticized by Boric, who has pointed out that he establishes a “family authoritarianism” in Nicaragua.

And the message of the former progressive Ecuadorian president also featured on social networks Rafael Correa, which on his Twitter account also reminded Allende: “… much sooner rather than later, the great avenues will be opened where the free man passes to build a better society.”

Congratulations from 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 Chilean presidential elections. The Chilean people move forward with hope towards a more just, feminist and environmental future “.

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

RECOGNITION OF OTHER LEADERS

But not only leftist leaders recognized the triumph of Boric. The president of Uruguay, Luis Lacalle Pou, through Twitter acknowledged the election of the standard-bearer of the Broad Front and the Communist Party and wished him “success for the good of the Chilean people.”

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

After highlighting the democratic attitude of the far-right José Antonio Kast for acknowledging his defeat in the ballot, I send a “fraternal greeting to the Chilean people, who today elected their new president Gabriel Boric. Successes in his management for the well-being of his people.”

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