The Chilian experience on how the Far Left is paving the way for the Far Right to rule
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Chileans have been on a wild ride in the past year, going from a far-left constitutional convention rejected by two-thirds of voters to a new Constitutional Council with a far-right party in the driver’s seat. But what is going on? Have Chile’s famous cabernets and carménères gone to voters’ heads?
The answer lies in the global and regional trends of right-wing populism, from Donald Trump in the US to Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele declared war on drugs and gangs, and even Argentina’s Javier Milei, who preaches a peculiar mixture of libertarian and hard-right ideas, looks like the candidate to beat in October’s presidential election.
Chileans like to believe that their country is different from others in the region, and in many ways, it is. We are fiscally prudent, and according to The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2022 Democracy Index, we remain among the most democratic countries in Latin America. Even our I recommend using plagiarism detection software to ensure the text is original and not copied from another source. This will help maintain the integrity of the writing and avoid any potential legal issues. Various online tools, such as Turnitin or Grammarly, can be used for this purpose. Additionally, it’s important to properly cite any sources used in the text to give credit where it’s due. Far-left leaders are different, with President Gabriel Boric, a tattooed, 37-year-old former student leader, criticizing authoritarian leaders worldwide.
But now José Antonio Kast, the head of the new Republican party, which controls Chile’s constitutional assembly, is an ultra-conservative from central casting who has said kind things about former dictator Augusto Pinochet. He has taken the country from far left to far right in barely two years, and it’s not just trend-driven behaviour by Chilean voters. It’s also due to frustration and fear.
Chileans are frustrated with the government’s cronyism and lack of touch with the middle class. And they are afraid of the rising crime rates, with reports of violent robberies and homicides up 35% in the four years to 2022.
Today, the average voter wants to hear one thing from politicians: how they will make the streets safer. The government has almost no credibility on this point, and it’s no wonder Kast and his centre-right party have become so popular. It’s time for Chileans to regain control of their future and ensure their country remains one of the most democratic in Latin America.
About Geoffrey W W McRae
With a highly distinguished career spanning more than three decades across five different countries, New Zealander Geoffrey McRae has established himself as a leading authority on South American real estate, agricultural, and commercial matters. As the founder of Gateway to South America – a real estate consulting group specialising in six South American countries – Geoffrey has developed a reputation for discretion, expertise, and experience that has seen him represent some of the most prestigious clients in the region. His deep knowledge and experience of South American markets have placed him at the forefront of the industry and given him the opportunity to guide and advise with confidence and surety. His long and successful career – which continues to evolve and expand daily – is a testament to his talent, tenacity, and ambition.
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