Page Seven / La Paz
A review of interviews and statements reveals that, although the candidates for the presidency of Chile José Antonio Kast and Gabriel Boric represent opposing ideological extremes, they coincide in having a tough position regarding the Bolivian demand for an outlet to the sea with sovereignty .
Kast, who represents the extreme right, and Boric, who represents the left, went to the ballot in Chile, being the two most voted candidates in Sunday’s elections. The second round will take place on December 19.
For Kast, the sea issue has been settled and “it is not appropriate” to hand over sovereignty to Bolivia to access the sea. That position was expressed on September 27, when he gave a presentation on security and defense at the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies.
“I have always been in favor of providing all the necessary services for free transit (to Bolivia), the best connectivity conditions that can be had, but I am not in favor of handing over national territory to Bolivians. That too has already been settled ”, he said then.
In an interview, on the eve of the International Court of Justice ruling on the maritime claim, Kast argued that, if that court ruled that Chile should give Bolivia a sovereign exit, he would not comply with that ruling.
“If the court in The Hague said ‘You have to give Bolivia an exit with sovereignty’, I would not comply. (…) And if the court tells us ‘You have to sit down with Bolivia (to negotiate)’, why would I have to sit down to negotiate? I would not comply with the ruling, “he told the El Informante program.
That day, The Hague ruled against Bolivia by ruling that Chile did not contract the obligation to negotiate a sovereign exit to the sea.
Boric, in the program El Candidato, on October 6, pointed out that sovereignty is not negotiated, when asked if he would try an outlet to the sea for Bolivia if he is elected president.
“I believe that sovereignty is not negotiated and there are State policies there, and it seems to me that there are certain issues in which one has to have a long-term policy. I hope to substantially improve relations with Bolivia and I would love to be able to end this shame that we still do not have an embassy in Bolivia to this day, ”he said.
With that position, Boric changed his mind regarding the pronouncement he had in 2018, when he argued that he was in favor of an outlet to the sea for Bolivia.
On November 10, 2019, the candidate referred to the events that occurred on that day in Bolivia as follows: “Coups d’état and military intervention are never the solutions to institutional crises.”
I am not in favor of handing over national territory to Bolivians. That too has already been settled
Jose Antonio Kast, far-right candidate
It seems to me that there are certain issues in which one has to have a long-term policy
Gabriel boric, candidate from the left
