Santiago, Chile – In a surprising turn of events, Jeannette Jara, a prominent figure in Chile’s Communist Party and former labor minister, emerged victorious in the primary elections for left-wing parties, securing over 60% of the vote. This unexpected triumph positions Jara, 51, as the candidate for the incumbent government in the upcoming November presidential elections. She will compete against contenders from the center-right and far-right, who are currently experiencing a surge in popularity.
Due to term limits, the current president, Gabriel Boric, 39, cannot seek reelection. Jara, who previously served as Boric’s labor minister before stepping down to pursue the presidency, received 60.5% of the votes. Her main competitor, Carolina Toha from the Democratic Socialist party and former Interior Minister, garnered 27.7%.
Jara expressed her determination to lead a unified and democratic Chile through social media, stating, “Today begins a new path that we will walk together, with the conviction to build a fairer and more democratic Chile. In the face of the threat from the far-right, we respond with unity, dialogue, and hope.”
Following Boric’s 2022 election victory, compulsory voting was introduced, injecting an element of unpredictability into this election cycle. Preliminary figures revealed that voter turnout was significantly lower than anticipated, with only 1.4 million of Chile’s 15.4 million eligible citizens casting their votes.
Jara’s significant win showcases the growing influence of hard-liners within Boric’s coalition. Nevertheless, experts describe her as more pragmatic and cooperative than some of her more radical peers. As labor minister, she gained recognition for her program that increased the minimum wage and shortened the workweek to 40 hours.
Jara has been likened to Michelle Bachelet, Chile’s former center-left president, who is regarded as an icon of female empowerment. Bachelet led the country from 2006 to 2010 and again from 2014 to 2018. During her victory speech, Jara honored Bachelet by saying, “She was the one who showed us the path that nothing is impossible.”
Despite her victory in the primaries, Jara faces a challenging path to presidency. Recent polls indicate diminishing support for the left-wing government amidst concerns over economic growth, organized crime, and migration issues in the historically stable and prosperous nation.
These critical issues have fueled support for right-wing candidates, particularly ultraconservative lawyer and former lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast, setting the stage for a highly polarized election. Another prominent figure on the right is Evelyn Matthei, a former labor minister known for her business-friendly policies that have attracted investors.
The Chilean electorate will head to the polls on November 16 to elect their president for the 2026-2030 term.