Rise of the far right in Chile

​A progressive country

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Many key measures of Boric's program, such as making water a public good, were based on the passage of a new constitution, which would have made Chile one of the most progressive countries in the world. But a few points of disagreement, such as the legalization of abortion, new rights given to indigenous peoples, or even the possibility for the president to serve two successive terms, have prompted the Chileans to refuse this new constitution, well supported it is true by the majority of the country's conservative media, in the hands of a handful of billionaires. The process of rewriting a new constitution was subsequently relaunched.

This massive rejection subsequently led to a cabinet reshuffle, confirming Boric's turn, from a rather radical left, to the center-left, with the appointment to several key government positions of several ex-ministers under Michelle Bachelet. , more experienced.

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Boric in the turmoil

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But these two important failures did not prevent several political successes during this first year in power for Gabriel Boric. Among them, the implementation of a major recovery plan to help small and medium-sized businesses affected by the pandemic.

The economic results are also positive for Boric, with for the first time in decades in Chile a budget surplus for the fiscal year 2022. Growth was helped by the increase in the prices of copper and lithium, of which Chile is one of the main producers. But also by Boric's recovery policy, with strong measures such as the increase in the minimum wage, the largest in 29 years, which rose to 400,000 pesos (500 dollars).

This increase immediately benefited 800,000 workers.

A major reform of the health system has been carried out by the left-wing coalition, with free access for more than 15 million people from the public health system, as well as an increase in the reimbursement shares on more than 6,900 drugs, against 2,700 previously .

Several smaller reforms have been carried out, such as the law guaranteeing the social inclusion and protection of autistic children.

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Coalitions difficult to accommodate

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The 37-year-old president will have to face several challenges, some of which come quickly: on May 7, the election of new advisers for the writing of a new draft constitution will take place.

Boric hopes to be able to also reduce the weekly working time, which would then go from 45h to 40h.

The double coalition "Apruebo Dignidad", which brought Boric to power, made up of his party the Frente Amplio, the Communist Party as well as the ecologists; but also the news, formed with the center-left, since the reshuffle linked to the rejection of the new constitution will be an important political aspect for the Chilean president. He was also quick to antagonize his Communist Party allies on diplomatic grounds, "It angers me when you are on the left and can condemn human rights abuses in Yemen or in El Salvador, but you can't talk about Venezuela or Nicaragua," he said in September 2022.

Finally, an important event will be commemorated in September 2023: the 50th anniversary of the military coup that brought General Pinochet to power. The government will have to think carefully about its strategy, so as not to alienate its electorate or strain relations with the opposition.

A lot of work to do for the young government, which promises another three interesting years to follow.

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Gaspard Agostini