Today, President Boric made his first public account before the Chilean Congress, rescuing the process of accumulation of historic actions and announcing economic and security measures, as well as tax and pension reforms.
It was a speech based on 5 axes: social rights, better democracy, justice and security, inclusive growth and environment.
His well-spoken speech lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, and also included a brief reference to the constituent process. “We chose to resolve differences with more democracy, not less,” he said.
He described the Pension Reform, assuring that individual savings will be respected. He also bet on what will be the cancellation of the CAE and educational debt, which will be implemented after the Tax Reform.
Regarding the conflict in the South Macrozone, Gabriel Boric reiterated his formula for achieving peace, centered on dialogue, respect and the rule of law.
On human rights, he pledged to “continue tirelessly searching for the disappeared”, to great applause. He also announced a round table to provide reparations to the victims of the social unrest, with Senator Fabiola Campillai as coordinator.
On security issues, the president announced a project to move towards a “total ban on the possession of weapons”. “I feel a sense of historic responsibility to consolidate the process of change in peace,” Boric concluded.
Among the most noteworthy phrases, we highlight the following:
“We have a historic opportunity. And I am certain that we will fulfil this task. Long live our people, long live our Chile”, words with which he concluded his speech.
“I will give my best so that at the end of our mandate, we can say that Chile is a more just, dignified and happy country”.
“In this, my first message to the full Congress, I feel a strong and inescapable sense of historical responsibility to consolidate, in peace and tranquility, this process of change. There are too many injustices and abuses that we must leave behind. But there is also too much hope, too much potential and too many opportunities.
“Our foreign policy will be turquoise, with a “green” focus on protecting biodiversity and a “blue” focus on protecting the oceans.
“Water has to be a public good and not a business that benefits a few”.
“One of the pillars of our government programme was the creation of a National Lithium Company. We reaffirm this commitment. We are going to create a National Lithium Company”.
“I would like to focus on the National Railway Development Plan, which reflects the historical cross-cutting desire of our country, which is to have an extensive network of trains for Chile”. “Chile deserves to recover its railway tradition”. “From this port city, I announce that I have already asked our Minister of Transport for no more diagnosis and let us start working seriously and make the train linking Valparaíso and Santiago a reality”.
“Armed force will not be tolerated in our country. And that is why our Less Guns, More Security Programme proposes the radical limitation of their legal access. I ask this Honourable Congress for its full support in passing a law that will allow us to move towards a total ban on gun ownership. “I know that some people do not applaud when I say this, but we have seen what happens in other countries. Let’s not allow it to happen in Chile.
“During the social outburst we experienced the worst human rights crisis in the last 30 years. Various national and international institutions reported the existence of serious abuses and violations of human rights that left a toll of pain that, as Chileans, we must assume and make reparations”. “We have presented a Comprehensive Agenda for Truth, Justice and Reparation for victims in the context of the social outbreak, which includes reformulating health programmes for victims and increasing pensions.
“We are working to protect journalists and communications workers, so that we never again have to mourn what happened to Francisca Sandoval, whose family we embrace, because they are the ones who must make power uncomfortable, even if it sometimes hurts or inconveniences”.
“This will be a government where corruption and taking advantage of situations of power and abuses will have no place”.
Regarding the upcoming plebiscite to endorse the new constitution, the President pointed out that the aim is to “change in order to preserve what is most valuable to us: to be part of the same path. That is what the current constitutional process is all about. “There have been stumbles, mistakes and lessons learned in the process. But if we can evaluate them today, it is precisely because at the most critical moment in our recent history, we chose to resolve our differences with more democracy, not less”. “On 4 September we will face a momentous decision: to approve or reject the proposal for a new Constitution. Both options are legitimate, and the government has a duty to ensure that the citizenry can express themselves freely and in an informed manner at the ballot box.
