In Chile, this Monday evening took place the last debate before the most important presidential election in nearly thirty years. Voters will have to decide on Sunday, December 18 between far-right candidate José Antonio Kast and former left-wing student leader Gabriel Boric. It is the most polarized presidential election since the end of General Pinochet’s dictatorship. And last night this last debate was quite tense, especially on issues of women’s rights and the LGBT + community.
with our correspondent in Santiago, Justine Fontaine
From the first part of the debate, the far-right candidate Jose antonio kast is facing old statements. In 2017 he spoke of a “gay dictatorship”, and in recent weeks he has had to review your program concerning women’s rights.
A lack of respect according to his competitor, the former student leader of the left Gabriel Boric : ” Close the Ministry of Women, discriminate against single women for social assistance at the expense of married women, or force a raped woman to become a mother, this is the respect he offers. “
The two men are also distinguished by their economic programs. On the left, Gabriel Boric, 35, promises to move towards a welfare state, towards more social rights. Facing him, José Antonio Kast defends the neoliberal model inherited from the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and promises to reduce the role of the state in the economy: ” When we say we’re going to reduce corporate taxes, that will create growth, and if there is growth there are more jobs and more decent jobs. “
The far-right candidate also makes several false claims and accuses his competitor of being manipulated by the Communist Party. He concludes the debate by thanking God.
The polls give the two candidates neck and neck. The election scheduled for Sunday is taking place in the midst of the drafting of a new Constitution, which could replace the current text, inherited from the Pinochet dictatorship.