Gabriel Boric to become Chile’s youngest-ever president
Gabriel Boric has become Chile’s youngest ever leader at the age of 35 after the left-wing candidate won in the presidential election.
Boric beat rival – far-right candidate Jose Antonio – by 10 points.
He told supporters he would look after democracy, promising curbs on the country’s neoliberal economic model.
Chile has been hit in recent years with mass protests against inequality and corruption. However, Boric’s victory prompted street celebrations – with supporters waving flags in the Capital Santiago.
In his speech, Mr Boric said he was taking on the job with humility and a “tremendous sense of responsibility”, vowing to “firmly fight against the privileges of a few”.
“We have an enormous challenge. I know that in the coming years, the future of our country is at stake, so I guarantee that I will be a president who cares for democracy and does not risk it, listens more than speaks, seeks unity, and attends to the needs of the people daily,” he told supporters.The official results record 56% of the votes for Mr Boric against Mr Kast’s 44%. Mr Khast conceded around an hour and 30 minutes after the polls closed – with around half of the ballots counted.
Both the candidates offered extremely different visions for Chile and both are outsiders representing political parties that have never been in power.
Chile has one of the world’s largest income gaps – with 1% of the population owning 25% of the country’s wealth, according to the UN. The country use to have one of the most stable economies in Latin America.
The new president has vowed to address the inequality by expanding social rights and reforming Chile’s pension and healthcare systems. He has promised to reduce the work week from 45 to 40 hours and boost green investment.
“We know there continues to be justice for the rich, and justice for the poor, and we no longer will permit that the poor keep paying the price of Chile’s inequality,” he said.
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