In moments of popular excitement, such as the result of an election, it is not just the winners’ party that is seen on the stage. After the defeat of the ultra-rightist José Antonio Kast, on Sunday (19), some supporters outside his committee shouted angrily: “Kast won, it was red fraud” and “Viva Pinochet, out of communism”.
Chile is not the only country in the world to see scenes like this. But in Latin America, it is one of those that best deals with the tempers that can turn violent on the part of losers.
Upon learning of the defeat, Kast immediately telephoned the victor, the leftist Gabriel Boric, to congratulate him. His advisors made sure that the photo of the call was immediately uploaded to social media, with a message: “As of today, Gabriel Boric is the new elected president of Chile and he deserves all our respect and constructive collaboration.” Moments later, Kast walked to the hotel where the leftist’s campaign committee was and spoke with him. Another record that quickly ended up on social media.
We have no way of knowing whether this will prevent “Kastism” from turning into a hate movement, which is prone to violent clashes against supporters of the president-elect. But, certainly, these images help, a lot, to contain more exalted and anti-democratic impulses. Although armed and not very spontaneous, these scenes have a very strong symbolic effect, that the political leaders respect each other and that Chile comes before their differences – even if, in the coming years, they will continue to be political opponents.
Once the results were consolidated, there was the traditional televised presidential call, in which we saw, again, the scene of the incumbent president calling the victorious, giving him congratulations and a couple of advices. On the other hand, the newly elected member listens to the president whom he harshly criticized in the campaign, but who, at this moment, must thank and respect, celebrating the Chilean republican tradition.
Again, this does not mean that Boric will not continue to be critical of Piñera. The president, for his part, may not be personally happy to hand over power to a boy who has projected himself politically by protesting against him in the streets. But the symbol is strong and important. If anything can lower the tone and level of political confrontation in a country, it’s a scene like this.
For those who were surprised by these images, it is worth remembering that this is an excellent Chilean custom that dates back to the country’s redemocratization period. Here are some of those that preceded them.
In the first election in times of democracy, in 1989, Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, of the Concertação alliance, defeated the rightist Hernán Büchi. With only 55% of the votes counted, but a clear bias in favor of Aylwin, Büchi left his committee and went to find the winner, to congratulate him. It was a crucial moment for Chile, as the country was emerging from a cruel dictatorship. General Pinochet and the Armed Forces, in turn, were keeping an eye on the process.
In 1993, the winner was also Christian Democrat Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. Likewise, just as the vote count showed an irreversible trend, the defeated rightist candidate, Arturo Alessandri, came out to greet the winner and pose with him for a photo.
That same night, Frei received a call, from the palace of La Moneda, from the acting president, Patricio Aylwin, congratulating him. The calls were not yet televised, but the entire conversation was immediately released to the media. The next day, both met at the presidential palace.
The socialist Ricardo Lagos won the second round, in 2000, against the rightist Joaquín Lavín. Once the result was known, the rightist also went to meet the winner and said: “Know that you can always count on me. I am at your disposal to fight to overcome the problems of Chileans. Without the pettiness of small politics, without questioning the consensus of the political system and economical”.
That same night, Lagos received the phone call from Frei, who greeted him and invited him to breakfast at his house the next day.
In 2005, centre-left Michele Bachelet defeated current Chilean president Sebastián Piñera in the second round. Once the result was known, Piñera congratulated Bachelet “not only because she will be Chile’s first female president, but also as a tribute to those thousands of women who, with effort and tenacity, have achieved their rightful place.” The next day, Lagos had breakfast at the successor’s house.’
In the following election, Piñera won against Frei, marking the right’s return to power in the country. The loser went to the hotel where the elected campaign committee was armed and said “the majority of Chileans have given him their confidence and that is why I wish him success in his term.” Soon, acting president Michelle Bachelet called Piñera, when for the first time the post-election conversation between winner and incumbent was broadcast on all TV channels. She congratulated him and asked him to remain on the “path of justice and social progress”. Piñera replied that he valued the “experience” of the then president.
In 2013, Bachelet was re-elected, this time after a run-off against right-wing Evelyn Matthei. With the result underway, Matthei went to meet Bachelet to congratulate her. Shortly thereafter, it was Piñera who called to congratulate Bachelet: “The Chileans expressed themselves clearly and I wish him great success.” The elected representative replied: “I will be the president of all Chileans and I want to gain the trust of those who did not vote for me as well, because it will be necessary for the changes we need to make.” Piñera then invited her to have breakfast together the next day.
In the next election, the phone call was repeated, but this time in reverse. Piñera was the winner in the second round against independent Alejandro Guillier. Bachelet telephoned again in front of the cameras and told him: “I wish you excellent management, we know that you and I want the best for Chile.” To which Piñera replied: “I want to ask for something, because I know that your experience and wisdom can help us a lot on the paths of the future, I hope I can count on your advice.” This time, it was Bachelet who said he was going to Piñera’s house for breakfast the next day.
Obviously, such gestures do not eliminate the political rifts and frictions, nor the confrontations that took place in all these governments. But showing civility and respect is a hallmark of Chile that I see being reinforced with each election and that fills those who hope to continue living in a democracy with hope and tranquility. As theatrical as they are, they are an important symbol that has a clear potential to contain hot tempers and to avoid verbal and physical violence between ideological rivals.
A tradition that Chile cultivates and that must be celebrated. And that so many other countries, especially Brazil today, on the eve of a disputed and inflamed election, should imitate.
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