Although governing is not an Excel sheet – a constant claim in the different administrations – there are numbers that are put on the table to make decisions and, for now, in the future Government of President Gabriel Boric, there are calculations that do not they fit together, which is why in recent weeks, how to govern with other forces outside of Approve Dignity (AP) has been installed so strongly and, in this way, achieve the capacity to be able not only to move forward with the agenda proposal, but also give floor to an Executive that will enter with a parliamentary minority.
On March 11, when the new Parliament, of 155 deputies, is installed, the official conglomerate, AP, will have 37 representatives in the hemicycle, that is, less than a third (52), the thin red line that experts put for give sustainability to an Executive. If to that were added each and every one of the deputies of the center-left, grouped in the PS, PPD, DC, PR and PL, they would reach 74 votes, more than a third, but less than a simple majority, which is fixed at 78.
This is mainly the reason for the tug of war between the iron circle of the President-elect, his conglomerate and the parties of the center-left. For now, the proposal to work with a ring system, that is, to categorize the scope of access to power or decision-making of some over others, is the one that has generated the most support, at least from the soon-to-be-government sector.
And although in the center-left they all made themselves available to collaborate “without conditions” with the new President, the times and the signals that have been delivered from the command have not satisfied everyone, at the same time that they have generated an internal debate in the different parties, which are struggling to reinvent themselves, some to re-profile themselves, others, and to transform themselves, still others, into a cornerstone when making decisions.
Not for nothing, the President-elect had to make a forced change in his agenda, which contemplated a longer stay in his native Punta Arenas, and decided to return to the capital on December 31, to hold a series of meetings in search of the path in pursuit of reaching minimum levels of support and governance, delivering other types of signals to the parties belonging to the New Social Pact.
In this sense, there are three support systems that have been put on the table to give minimal traction to the promises contemplated in the government program, and always thinking of the PS with a higher status than their peers, by not only counting with a greater ideological affinity but, in addition, being the largest private force in the sector, with 4 senators, 13 deputies and 23 cores.
One of those, although – as they assure from the interior of Approve Dignidad – has not been officially proposed, was that the party led by Álvaro Elizalde enter the ruling conglomerate and, in this way, the status of the first line in the taking would be achieved. decisions and not only costs would be paid. But for now this option would be ruled out, mainly due to the reluctance it generates on both sides, both in the AP and in the PS itself. Although there is a sector of the party based in Paris Street that would not see this option with a bad eye, there is a majority that has been in charge of going out to publicize the reluctance installed within the store. It is mainly accused of an eventual loss of identity and a risky break in the axis of so-called democratic socialism.
It should be remembered, however, that when registering the presidential primaries, Gabriel Boric’s will was for the PS and the other parties, with the exception of the DC, to sign a joint document, a situation that had been resolved in favor of the deputy, but that ended with a slam from the party of the then candidate, Social Convergence.
The other communities have also made it clear that their intention is not to be part of the decision-making space, but rather to contribute with a collaborative spirit, although with clear rules, which have not yet been established.
For now, the ring system has an advantage, a non-ideological but pragmatic and programmatic unit, something akin to a collaborative governance pact, which seeks to push a parliamentary disadvantaged car. In any case, it is necessary to resolve in detail what it would mean to be part of one ring and not another, and its scope. It has been understood that, not belonging to the first of them, is directly related to not being considered in the ministerial heads, a situation without greater clarity and in which they are working against the clock.
The third of the proposals would aim to completely open up the political conglomerate of the elected President, in a kind of grand coalition, but – according to internal comments – it is an idea that should be allowed to mature for a time, since the conditions would not be in place. for the moment. When could that idea be deepened? If the time comes when the Government “starts to get water” and it is necessary to have a much larger floor to “stay afloat”, they indicated.
The president of the PPD, Natalia Piergentili, said – in an interview with CNN– that “we have worked in a bloc, the PS, PPD, PR and the liberals, to have a critical mass that contributes to the Government from a cultural identity. Therefore, by the way, we expect the same treatment with the rest of the parties, but that is not to make a break or a controversy. ” To that he added that “I would feel very aggrieved if this political conversation, which we hope to have with President Boric, did not happen.”
As the deputy and strongest face of the Liberal Party, former member of the Broad Front, Vlado Mirosevic, said in this regard that “I believe that the coalition is going to reach the Socialist Party, but it should go further. I do not believe that a coalition with a lower percentage in Congress can govern without inviting the rest of progressivism. If they do not, this Government will have great difficulties to govern and it will be fragile, it does not make any sense. I would expect wisdom, I wish the President wisdom to understand the historical moment. You cannot govern with a third, “he added.
From Punta Arenas, the elected President, Gabriel Boric, assured that he had spoken both with the PPD helmsman and with the deputy Mirosevic, arranging the respective appointments for once back in Santiago.
The PS dilemma
In the Socialist Party they are already notified of the superior status that they are going to have in the Government with respect to their peers. In this sense, the first meeting of President-elect Gabriel Boric with the socialist helmsman Álvaro Elizalde was a sufficient sign, and to this the will of both parties is added, although the specific how is yet to be defined.
However, in the socialist store, and as usual, the waters are not calm, on this occasion, due to the excess noise generated in its leadership that figures rooted in dissidence potentially have a greater role in La Moneda.
These are the cases of former PS presidential candidate, Paula Narváez, deputy Maya Fernández, deputy Manuel Monsalve and leader Ricardo Moyano, all with a high degree of closeness to Gabriel Boric, and who worked inch by inch during their campaign, achieving greater access to the circle of trust over the PS itself, institutionally speaking.
Hence the insistence at the time – no longer – of the helmsman of the store, regarding the relations between the command and the party being institutional, since in this way he could acquire greater control of the representation of his party in the future government. While from one sector the idea of the senator’s veto for Maule was accused, in their defense they pointed out that this is how political relations would be understood when making decisions.
Finally, Elizalde’s idea did not achieve the necessary echo and he had to give in, since the command – and they have indicated this – would not be willing to work with any type of veto, especially if it is “a guest”. In this way, Elizalde resolved through a new strategy, or so at least it would have been proposed: if the four names already mentioned enter the Government, that these do not count as part of the PS quota that would land in La Moneda, a an idea that does not generate as much reluctance as the first. Although the Socialist Party at this time does not yet have the pass to sit at the decision-making table, they do know that they have the upper hand, since they are the minimum floor that the new Government will require, thinking about the 11th of March 2022.
