[News] Piñera for the future new Constitution: I have faith that the Chilean model is not going to be thrown overboard

[FNX Magokiler]

This Monday the International Foundation for Freedom held its "XIII Atlantic Forum:‘ Ibero-America and the world: post-pandemic challenges ", where President Sebastián Piñera participated as an interviewee.

On the occasion, Piñera was consulted about the social outbreak, the political environment after the October 2019 protests, the pandemic and the constituent process that is being carried out.

The President mentioned believing “that —without prejudice that we have suffered a lot—, broadly speaking, if one adds and subtracts, (…) we hope the worst is left behind, and that Chile is recovering its ability to create jobs and grow, and at the same time recovering its ability to fight the coronavirus ”.

“Of course, none of this guarantees that we will not have sprouts. We are seeing what is happening in Europe with the second wave, which is much worse than the first, and that is why we are working on a second wave plan, ”he said.

Chilean model

Asked about what awaits the Chilean model, which, according to the interviewer, was one of the most successful in Latin America and which has been widely questioned since October 2019, the President assured that said reaction of the public for a change in model does not is majority.

“It is true that there is a reaction that I believe is not the majority in our country that points in that direction. The last 30 years of Chile, since we recovered our democracy in 1990 until 2020, (…) without a doubt they were 30 good years for Chile and we also recovered our democracy during that period in an exemplary way ”, he assured.

The President added that in that period a “tacit agreement” was reached based on three principles: “Respect democracy and the rule of law; commit to an open, free, competitive economy, integrated into the world; and to make a great effort of inclusion, to combat poverty, reduce inequalities, to advance towards greater equality of opportunities ”.

 

 

He also indicated: “The model (…) for the rest in these 30 years, 24 years were governments of the Concertación, that is, of the current opposition, so when I speak of these 30 years I am talking about a merit of the Concertación and ours, because we have shared the Government ”.

“Now it is true that a very radical left emerged, very populist, very little respectful of the rules of democracy, of the rules of the rule of law that has raised things that in my opinion would be very negative for Chile, but I have faith and confidence that the Chilean model, with adjustments, with changes, is not going to be thrown overboard and that we will be able to agree on a new Constitution, "he argued.

Along these lines, he mentioned: “Let us remember that this Constitution has been going on for 40 years, because it dates from 1980, in the time of Pinochet, and we have been arguing for 40 years about the legitimacy of the Constitution, about the benefits of the Constitution or the bad things or the illegitimacy ”.

“A country cannot spend 40 years arguing about its fundamental charter. The fundamental charter, the Constitution —in civilized and wise countries— is the great framework of unity, stability, projection that allows us to resolve our differences within that constitutional framework of unity and stability. That has not been the case in Chile ”, he clarified.

Regarding the same, he acknowledged that “it is true that we have had a turbulent time due to what happened in October last year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the recession in the world economy, but if I could say it in two words, I believe that until now Chile has known how to channel that demand for a new social pact in an institutional way, within the Constitution and not with violence or anarchy, despite the fact that there has been a lot of violence ”.

“I am optimistic that Chile is not going to deviate from a path of freedom, democracy, progress and this time we have to make a very big effort to be more inclusive: understand them all. Let's not leave anyone behind ”, he stressed.

Populism
In the instance, Piñera was also consulted on whether he is concerned that the constituent process will turn into "hints of populism."

To the above, the President noted: “Of course I am concerned because Chile is not free or exempt from populism. Today we have a lot of populism in our country. People who promise easy solutions, shortcuts, success without work, in getting things done by emphasizing rights but forgetting about duties. This is present in Chile and we are very concerned ”.

“For there to be equity there must be progress, and that is why if you believe that we are going to have economic development without social equity, you are following a dangerous path, and if you believe that you are going to have social equity without economic progress, you are following a path impossible, and that is why it is so important to strike a fair balance ”, he said.

In addition, he added: “Of course we are in the same battle as the whole world, in this fight of the populists who promise gold and the Moor, but in the end we all know that it is a mirage, because it is bread for today, hunger for tomorrow . The only way to solve the problems of poverty, the problems of lack of opportunities and the many deficiencies that we have in Latin America is with progress, with development, with growth ”.

Radicalization of the left
Finally, the President was consulted about the risks that a “radical left” influences a moderate left in the constituent process, preventing the sectors from reaching agreements on important issues.

On this matter, Piñera pointed out that “this risk exists, because it is true. A very radical, very extremist left has emerged in Chile, which does not respect the basic principles of democracy, the rule of law and that permanently wants to go beyond that democracy and that rule of law.

“That left, in my opinion, is not the path that Chile needs to achieve a freer, fairer, more prosperous society, but the second danger (…) is that the center left, which was what we called the Concertación (… ), that center left in our country has, in my opinion, been too pressured and sometimes allowed to be carried away by this other extremist left ”, he explained.

He added that “the risk is (…). Until now that left, which does not have the votes, but often goes hand in hand with violence, and goes hand in hand with populism and does not respect the basic values and principles of democracy, has played a role in Chile that does not corresponds".

"That is why the true democrats, those of us who believe in freedom, those of us who believe in a freer, more prosperous, fairer Chile, have to be able to reach a great agreement," he said.

Finally, he asserted that “the game is not played. Are there risks? There are risks, but I am confident, because I know Chileans, that we will find that path of a great meeting of those of us who really believe in democracy, the rule of law and the freedom to give Chile a second air that allows us to continue advancing towards that ”.