After leaving the Christian Democracy (DC), accused by some of its historical militants – among them, Senator Francisco Huenchumilla – of trying to “right-wing” the party and months after the plebiscite that made them raise the banner of victory for Rejection, the Senators Ximena Rincón and Matías Walker announced their own path, always through the center, in which they will inevitably collide with other projects to which the same appetite has been whetted: go after the pocket of 4 million votes that mandatory suffrage uncovered. With an ideological closeness to the tradition of social democracy, Demócratas is a group that seeks to show itself as the heir to the Concertación.
Understanding that symbolism is very important when promoting the creation of a new political store, which will need citizen support to legally become a party in formation, Democrats was launched this Wednesday at the Hotel Almacruz –former Hotel Galerías–, which in 1988 was the computer center of the NO command. But beyond this symbolic factor, which could be interpreted as a nod to those who still feel represented by the governments of the former Concertación, from the fledgling party they also assume the feasibility of building bridges of contact with the center-right.
Precisely, the president of the Democrats and possible presidential letter of the store, Senator Ximena Rincón, states that “this is without a veto, we are going to make alliances with all those who are willing to move the country forward and have certain clear values, of democracy, respect for human rights and entrepreneurship are values that are essential for us as democrats.” In addition, the parliamentarian adds that “I would not talk about the center being eroded, on the contrary, what we have here today is a revitalization of the center, a revaluation of it, putting an important focus on adding wills to the center.”
Delving into the values and principles that support the new political party, the parliamentarian clarifies that they are not assumed as an opposition sector to the Government of President Gabriel Boric, and adds “that they are willing to support what is good for the country.” Likewise, it warns about the need to reach an early agreement for the continuity of the constituent process, while at the same time it shares the decision of the bench of DC deputies not to support Karol Cariola’s candidacy for the presidency of the Lower House, because of the lawsuit filed by the PC against the former director of the National Institute of Human Rights (INDH), Sergio Micco.
-What is the border between being a center-left party and one of the center-right? Are you willing to talk and promote agreements with Chile Vamos?
-As in the past, with Senators Walker, Flores and Araya, we promoted the reform at 4/7, for which we needed to join many wills, because the quorum required for that reform was 2/3, and we carried it out with the support of all sectors of the Senate, except for the votes of Senators Huenchumilla and Campillai. I believe that on issues that are urgent for citizens, such as security, improved pensions and health, I think we have to be able to agree on everything, and that means adding the will of many .
-In that sense, are they an opposition party to the current government?
-We are not in opposition to the Government of President Gabriel Boric. That is why we are going to support all the things that are good for the country, and we are going to reject those that we do not share.
-So, what is the political and ideological support of your sector, which makes it differentiate itself from the ruling party and the right-wing opposition?
-The axis of the Democratic Party is to achieve respect for equality with dignity, the issue of freedom; respect to all and to all; strengthen the rule of law; the improvement of democracy; decentralization and deconcentration; promoting a society full of social justice; generate an effective, decentralized and sustainable economic model, promoting a model whose main objective is to satisfy the needs of people and society as a whole; respect for the environment; the modernization of the State; probity as an essential value; gender equity; The education; and health. I believe that understanding that we have economic challenges but also security challenges is fundamental to be able to develop all the principles that the Democratic Party upholds.
-Could it be said that they seek to revive a concertacionist spirit to revitalize it and reinstall it in the current political discussion?
-I believe that we have to be capable of respecting, rescuing and revaluing everything that was done well in the past, relieving it, and being capable of adding things forward, learning from the mistakes of that same past.
-By heading the board of directors of this nascent community, is it a sign of empowerment, thinking about a possible presidential candidacy of yours?
-I think that thinking about the presidential issue is not understanding the seriousness of the issues we have today. There is a long way to go before a presidential election and I believe that it is not the focus that should be in the conversations that are pressing the country today.
-Some politicians, such as former conventionalists Felipe Harboe and Fuad Chahin, were part of the initial conversations about the creation of the Democratic Party. If Chahin was subtracted for his bid to return to DC chairmanship, why wasn’t Harboe a part of this Wednesday’s launch? Could he eventually join the project?
-It would be an honor for Felipe Harboe to be with us, and obviously we hope that he can make a decision that means that this is the result, but we understand that each one has their spaces, their times and their reflections.
-Is it a priority for you to reach an early agreement on constituent matters? Or do you think there is another agenda that should be revealed more urgently?
-I believe that the agreement has to materialize as soon as possible, but we have to push an agenda that takes care of the two fundamental issues for citizens: the security issue and the economic issue. These are urgencies that can no longer wait, and that are independent of the agreement on constitutional matters.
-Finally, do you support the decision of the bench of DC deputies to subtract support from Karol Cariola to be the next president of the Chamber?
-Regarding the administrative agreement of the Chamber, we understand, respect and certainly support the demand made by the deputies of the DC in order not to support a militant of the PC, while the PC was suing against Sergio Micco in matter of human rights, which frankly seems to us to be an unpresentable situation.
