During this weekend, in Espacio Riesco (Huechuraba), the closing of the General Council 2023 of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) was carried out, an instance headed by the president of the party, Senator Javier Macaya, together with the general secretary , María José Hoffmann, as well as parliamentarians, mayors, and other elected authorities. The event included activities such as a pilgrimage to the tomb of Jaime Guzmán and a tribute to Jovino Novoa, the late former senator and historic leader of the party.
But the person in charge of closing the Council – this Saturday – was the mayoress of Providencia, Evelyn Matthei, who today is considered one of the most influential political figures, and one of the most probable presidential cards of the right, as reflected in the surveys. Assuming that leadership role within the UDI, Matthei delivered a speech that included harsh criticism of a sector of the ruling party, in the midst of the political debate regarding the security crisis.
“These extreme positions can be popular, they can grow a lot but not govern. Look today at the bewilderment and anger of the most extreme sectors of Approve Dignity who came to power inflamed and who see that today their own government is not refounding, but rather supporting the Carabineros. Look at the annoyance of those who see that the most important ministries are not those of their ranks, but those who despised”, said the mayor of Providencia.
Likewise, and assuming that the party’s emphasis is placed today on security, the senator and president of the UDI, Javier Macaya, referred to the vote on the Naín-Retamal Law in Congress, assuring that his political sector does not want changes that imply less protection and fewer guarantees for police officers. “The summons that is made to the left is that we vote for a law that has already been discussed for a year in Congress and that we not go back one iota in the protection that our police officers require,” he said.
In addition, regarding the warnings that the project has received from the UN, Senator Macaya stated that as a party it seems relevant to them, adding that “I have no doubt that the United Nations itself is an organization that defends democracy.” But at the same time that the president of the UDI issued these words, at the closing of the General Council of his party, the deputies of his bench, Henry Leal and Marta Bravo, announced that they would take the Naín-Retamal Law to a mixed commission, in case approval of the instructions of the Government. In this regard, the parliamentarians accused the Executive of “giving in to the pressures of the PC and the Broad Front”, concluding that “it only demonstrates the zero credibility they have in terms of security.”
