Until París 879, in the center of Santiago, the presidents of Democratic Socialism arrived during the afternoon of this Monday. The head of the Socialist Party (PS), Paulina Vodanovic, received them at the community headquarters at 3:30 p.m. to hold a meeting until around 6:00 p.m. The reason? Close to those who attended explained that it was part of the efforts being made by the PS and the Liberal Party (PL) to achieve a unitary list.
“They did not budge from their position,” commented a connoisseur of what was discussed, referring to the leaders of the Party for Democracy (PPD) and the Radical Party (PR). “Until February 6 – the deadline to register the lists of candidates for constitutional counselors – we will continue to insist,” he added. They described that, from now until the deadline is met, the frequency of meetings will intensify.
Wednesday, February 1, is the deadline self-imposed by the Socialist Party for the political commission of the store to define whether to join a list with Democratic Socialism or with Approve Dignity, in the event that the Party for Democracy does not join the list the only one – from the Christian Democracy to the Communist Party – promoted by socialists and liberals.
However, it is not certain that there will be white smoke in the PS on Wednesday. Consulted one of the 110 members of the party’s political commission, he explained in reserve that the decision “will probably be extended until the hours of registration” of constitutional advisers, on February 6, since there are some who are waiting for a change in the resolution of the PPD – who through their National Council, this Saturday, determined to go on two lists.
The current reality regarding the lists of constitutional advisors in the ruling party is that there are two that exist for the registration of candidates. One that will represent the Government more closely, with the force of Approve Dignity, and another, closer to the center or the former Concertación, with the force of Democratic Socialism. Although its parts are more or less defined, the Socialist Party put a key chip on the board that could redefine things: Michelle Bachelet. While waiting for the PS to define whether to join the AD list or the one led by the PPD, the announcement that the former President will assume the leadership of a single list, alters what today seemed to be defined.
“Today the reality is that there is no single list, we have two lists. Therefore, in this scenario, former President Bachelet would not be a candidate. The former president has no interest in being a candidate, she is responding to a call that I make to her as president of the PS,” said Paulina Vodanovic in ‘Zero Tolerance’.
The insistence of the PS and PL for the single list
After imposing the political vote proposed by the president of the party, socialist militants assured that unity is key in a scenario in which they must move forward with a new Constitution after the electoral defeat on September 4, and in the midst of what they describe as the rise of an anti-democratic right.
They also pointed out that there is awareness that there is mistrust between the two coalitions that make up the government alliance and that there are those who believe that the government will be evaluated in the vote for constitutional advisers, which could lead Democratic Socialism to poor results.
They revealed that the will of Michelle Bachelet has a political purpose, and that a decision is made this Wednesday – on whether to go with Approve Dignity or with Democratic Socialism, if the PPD does not give in – will depend on the progress of the talks on Tuesday .
Those who are for a list with I Approve Dignity, if the unity of the ruling party is not achieved, pointed out that, unlike the other group that points out that the PS should go with Democratic Socialism in this scenario and that, otherwise, the coalition would fade, this is not the time to profile but to “make every effort so that the Government does well.”
From the Liberal Party there is a similar look. They stressed that it has taken years to achieve the unity of the center-left and that they will continue “intending the single list.” However, those familiar with the meeting at the PS headquarters, assured that the head of the store, Patricio Morales, in addition to asking the PPD and the PR to join the single list, advocated for the unity of Democratic Socialism. He would have postulated that if the ruling party does not achieve unity, the center-left coalition will not break.
The bolts of the former Concertación are shaken
Wednesday will be the day on which the term proposed by the PS to seal its electoral pacts with its most important card on the table, former President Bachelet, expires. In the event that the single list proposal is maintained, the ball will remain in the court of the former Concertación matches and they will have until February 6 to take a final position. That day the period for the formalization of independent and party candidacies will close, the same day the campaign will start.
Deputy Cosme Mellado, from the Radical Party, clarified that the president of his group, Leonardo Cubillos, gave a clear signal that his determination is for both lists. However, he warned that the talks will be open until the last minute and that, so far, only two paths are seen: “Either the PS joins the two lists or the other can happen and that the objective of former President Bachelet is fulfilled.” ”.
On January 22, the Liberal Party – after its National Council – assured, in the voice of Patricio Morales, that “it does not renounce the possibility of building a single list of progressivism”, but also added that “if we do not find the conditions that make it possible, we must be capable of maintaining the cohesion of Democratic Socialism”.
In a reserved way, from the leadership of the PPD, the presence of Bachelet on the board has released locks that previously seemed fixed: “We have a council agreement on the two lists and there are others who have to make the decision with whom they leave, or if they go with us or they go with AD, which does not prevent us from continuing to talk and listening to different situations”.
In any case, from the Party for Democracy they warned that such a proposal establishes a complex scenario and that “nevertheless it is a decision of the PS if it wants to break Democratic Socialism.” The entry of former President Bachelet to the game of the lists opens doors, but she does not remove, in the eyes of the PPD: “Politics is dynamic and changing, but, a priorithere is nothing that makes us change our position ”.
One of the vice-presidents of the PS, Fanny Pollarolo, maintained that Bachelet’s arrival must be measured on her merits, especially by the PPD, since “the job of being a candidate means making an enormous effort and it would be incomprehensible for the Party to Democracy was not considering it”. Pollarolo even warned that the party of the Minister of the Interior, Carolina Tohá, is in debt: “The PPD has close ties of appreciation, I would even say political debt (with the former President), for having been part of a government in Leading the way was Michelle Bachelet, who is a person who has national and international prestige”.
The vice president pointed out that the speech should be ordered, since “the PPD claims to be a party that supports the Government. It is even a community that seeks to be more represented in the Government, to assume more responsibilities, ”she pointed out.
