Chile Presidential Candidate Evelyn Matthei Unveils Campaign Blueprint
(Bloomberg) -- Chilean center-right presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei pledged to crack down on crime and illegal immigration, while doubling economic growth, as she unveiled campaign priorities ahead of the November election.
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Speaking before hundreds of people in a packed theater Thursday night, Matthei said that, if elected president, she will use satellites, helicopters and cameras to monitor Chile's borders, expel thousands of foreigners who committed crimes and build five new jails.
The former government minister, mayor and senator is trying to capture the zeitgeist of the moment as Chile braces for a renewed influx of foreigners, after President Donald Trump clamped down on immigration into the US. There are at least 320,000 undocumented immigrants in Chile, a country of about 20 million that has seen a surge in murders in recent years associated with foreign organized-crime groups such as Tren de Aragua.
'Illegal immigration is serious,' Matthei said. 'In the prison of Arica, 60% of inmates are foreigners. So, respecting the institutional frameworks, we will take measures that ensure the control of our borders.'
In an ambitious election program, Matthei also promised to double the pace of economic growth by cutting down on red tape and encouraging construction. At the same time, her administration would reduce waiting lists for medical procedures, increase access to daycare and strengthen public eduction.
'We won't cut social programs that are well-evaluated,' Matthei said. 'But, we will be very demanding and tough when it comes to superfluous or poorly-executed spending. We need a state with more muscle and less fat.'
Leading Polls
The remarks give both investors and voters greater insight into the vision of a front-runner in this year's presidential election. Matthei has led in the polls, backed by Chileans who are fed up with problems including organized crime and drug-trafficking. Still, her campaign has been tested by the lack of unity among conservative contenders, with hard-right candidates Johannes Kaiser and Jose Antonio Kast forging ahead with their own campaigns for head of state.
At the event, Matthei introduced some of her top advisors. Speakers included Cecilia Cifuentes, a professor at Universidad de Los Andes who detailed plans to spur investments, as well as campaign director Juan Luis Ossa.
Their remarks often circled back to the idea that there would be no room for improvisation in public policies and spending. To that point, Matthei vowed to reduce government expenditures by 1% of gross domestic product.
Her collaborators include many people who worked under former center-right President Sebastian Pinera, such as Paula Daza, who helped guide Chile through the pandemic as health ministry undersecretary; Ignacio Briones, who was finance minister and Alejandro Weber, who was finance ministry undersecretary.
The Left
Matthei's campaign announcements capped a busy week for Chilean politics. On Tuesday, Carolina Toha stepped down from her post as interior minister and said she will compete for the presidency for the center-left.
The next day, the influential ex-President Michelle Bachelet ruled out a third run for the nation's top job. Previously, Bachelet beat Matthei in the 2013 election to secure her second term as head of state.
A Pulso Ciudadano survey published on Sunday showed Matthei leading the race for head of state with support from 24.3% of voters, followed by Bachelet with 15.9%. Hard-right contenders Kast and Kaiser garnered 10.6% and 9.7%, respectively. Toha polled just 1.9%.
Critics point out that Matthei's support in polls has remained relatively steady, sparking fears her campaign may be stagnating. She has also come under fire in recent weeks after the center-right parties that back her negotiated a pension reform with current President Gabriel Boric's leftist government.
The first-round vote will be on Nov. 16 and a run-off, if needed, would take place on Dec. 14. Local laws forbid consecutive terms for any head of state, meaning that Boric will not be able to seek reelection.
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