Chile Welcomes Youngest President at 35... Left-Wing Coalition Candidate Boric Elected

Return of Left-Wing Government After 4 Years...Calls for Social Reform Grow
Political Newcomer Entered Politics in 2013..."Responsible for Solving Economic Crisis"

On the 19th (local time) in Santiago, the capital of Chile, Gabriel Boric, a candidate from the left-wing coalition who secured victory in the presidential runoff election, is giving a speech to his supporters. Boric, 35 years old this year, will become the youngest president in Chilean history. He is scheduled to take office in March next year, beginning a four-year term. Santiago (Chile) = AP·Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] In the runoff of the Chilean presidential election, 35-year-old left-wing coalition candidate Gabriel Boric defeated far-right candidate Jos? Antonio Kast and won. This is interpreted as the left-wing government returning after four years amid growing dissatisfaction with income inequality and increasing interest in social reform in Chile. Currently, Chile is facing severe economic difficulties due to the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of the population living in absolute poverty. Boric's top priority is expected to be combating COVID-19 and resolving the economic crisis.

According to AFP on the 19th (local time), with 92% of the votes counted in the Chilean presidential runoff, Boric secured 55.8% of the votes, leading Kast who received 44.2% by more than 10 percentage points. As the victory seemed certain, Kast acknowledged his defeat on Twitter and congratulated Boric with a phone call.

In the first round of the presidential election held on the 21st of last month, Kast led with 27.9% of the votes, while Boric came in second with 25.8%. According to Chilean election law, if no candidate receives more than 50% of the votes, a runoff election is held to determine the final winner.

Boric, born in 1986, will become the youngest president in Chilean history. Twenty years younger than Kast, Boric is a member of the Social Convergence party and is known as a young politician who emerged from the student activist movement advocating for a welfare state model. During his campaign, he promised to strengthen welfare by proposing tax increases and increased social spending.

Currently, he leads 'Apruebo Dignidad,' Chile's largest left-wing coalition, which includes the Social Convergence party and the Communist Party among other left-wing parties. With the left-wing government returning after four years, Chile is expected to focus on leftist policies such as redistribution.

In Chile, on October 18, 2019, protests against inequality erupted following an increase in Santiago subway fares and worsening inflation, raising public demands for social reform. AFP commented, "In the prolonged economic hardship caused by COVID-19, political newcomer Boric, who entered politics in 2013, now bears the heavy responsibility of resolving the people's hardships."