Leftist presidential candidate, Janet Jara, used every space on Thursday to distinguish herself and question Republican José Antonio Cast, in the first direct confrontation of the runoff campaign. 17 days before the elections, which the far right enjoys according to opinion polls, Jara described Cast’s proposals to control immigration as “populist” and “lacking empathy,” and repeatedly accused him of not specifying the programs that would be affected by the financial adjustment of $6 billion in 18 months that he proposes. While the official letter called for discussion in the forum organized by various civil organizations, the movement tried not to deviate from its text, which focuses on security, economy and migration.
In this second round, there are only two debates scheduled for the candidates to confront their proposals, in addition to the poverty forum organized by the radio Cooperative And the house of Christ. Jara, who went into the runoff with 26.8% of the vote, compared to Cast, who received 23.9%, faces the challenge of winning over a larger electorate, as right-wing candidates received nearly 50% support in the first round. For this reason, the left has taken an offensive stance on every issue addressed, such as water scarcity, the housing crisis, and entrepreneurship. “You just have to hit the government,” former Labor Minister Gabriel Buric, who questioned him on several occasions for not answering what he was asked, once told him. He said: “The country is not governed by criticism, but rather by ideas and experience.”
One of the topics discussed at the forum is the growth of slums and the potential fate of families following evictions from informal settlements ordered by justice. Kast stressed that these families must make it clear that they cannot live on land that does not belong to them. Regarding where to move, the Republican stated that if they have a family member, “they’ll have to come to an agreement with them.” He added: “The state must look for alternatives so that they can be welcomed in that place where their relatives or anyone else is present.” For his part, Jara responded that people “will not disappear from the camps because someone said so.” “Lack of empathy or putting yourself in another’s position is very complicated,” he noted.
Another issue that has characterized the political debate is the fate of the 330,000 illegal immigrants residing in Chile. Kast suggested sending irregular foreigners by plane, using as an example Venezuelans, who do not leave of their own volition to return to their countries. Jara said at the forum that this measure would require sending nine planes daily for a year. He said: “Populist proposals are useless. We must bear responsibility.” The leftist candidate added: “Therefore, compulsory registration and expelling those who do not register is the key.”
Measuring poverty was also a point of contention among the La Moneda Prize nominees. Chile reduced income poverty from 10.7% in 2020 to 6.5% in 2022, according to the National Socio-Economic Profiling Survey (Casen), which applied methodological adjustments. Kast called for the need for data transparency and state efficiency and criticized the interpretation of the latest CASEN. “If someone told me the poverty rate was 6.5% and real poverty was 11.5%, my public policies would be poorly focused.” Jara questioned him because he questioned the data and asserted that if he wins the elections, they will seek economic growth that reaches all Chileans, with a living income of 750,000 pesos ($795).
On several occasions, the left-wing candidate has tried to hammer home the message that Kast’s proposed $6 billion tax cut would affect social benefits, something the Republican rules out, but he does not detail where it would be applied. The leftist said, “It is very important that the state be established, instead of disarming and weakening it, given the situation we are living in, especially public security. Because where there is no state, organized crime enters, and what must be done is to modernize it.”
Kast’s strategy in the campaign was to point to Jara as the “candidate for continuity” in Burić’s “failed government”. The leftist administration has about 60% opposition and the Republican is addressing them. When the extremist asked about the policy of the executive authority regarding water desalination plants in the north of the country, due to the presence of “ideological” positions behind it, Jara replied: “You just have to hit the government and the procedures and you do not have any proposals for the future, and that is why you are evading discussions. At the present time the only thing you are doing again is criticizing and criticizing and not building on anything.”
The leftist candidate’s arrows regarding Kast’s evasion of debates are due to inviting both candidates to a meeting on national television, but the Republican, who has a lot to lose, declined the invitation. The candidates will participate in a debate organized by next Wednesday Association of Radio Broadcasters of Chile (ARCHI) where Jara is expected to repeat his offensive strategy.