Boric envisions a greener, fairer and more inclusive country, reflecting the generational shift underway in Chile
Chile's future as a green, better country depends on the success of efforts to rewrite the country's dictatorial-era constitution, President-elect Gabriel Boric said on Tuesday.
After a meeting with delegates elected to rewrite the 1980 constitution, which established the ideological legacy of General Augusto Pinochet, Boric called on Chile to unite behind the project.
"We all need to do our best [constitutional process] independent of our political differences," Boric said in Santiago.
Last year an astonishing 78% of Chileans voted in favor of drafting a new document, and another vote this year saw the election of a widely leftist legislature in the works.
"If things go well for the conference, they will be good for Chile," Boric confirmed, adding that he would respect the conference's decision-making.
The conference's president, Alyssa Loncón, an academic belonging to Chile's Mapuche indigenous group, said that the conference would "open its doors to institutional cooperation", but hoped that the autonomy of the body would be retained.
Boric secured the largest majority ever to secure a decisive victory over his far-right rival, Jose Antonio Cast, in the Chilean election.
Kast strongly opposed rewriting the constitution and many voters were concerned about the future of the process should he have won the presidency.
But Boric's victory means he will become Chile's youngest ever president on March 11, 2022, a decade after he rose to prominence in 2011 as a scruffy-haired protest leader.
In Santiago, the excitement of the result is not yet completely over and the tense uncertainty that characterizes runoff campaigns has mostly ended.
After a bitter campaign, Cast, who quickly accepted his defeat, visited BorÃk at his headquarters in the center of Santiago on Sunday evening, declaring that his rivals "could count on him" while forging a new future for Chile. Huh".
As president-elect, Boric is greeted with cheers and chants at every event he attends.
He gave his first speech on Sunday night on a large stage built on one of Santiago's main streets, with cheering crowds as far as the eye could see in every direction.
On Monday, Boric held a two-hour meeting at the presidential palace, La Moneda, with incumbent President Sebastian Pinera, his campaign chief Izquia Siches, 35, and political adviser Giorgio Jackson, 34.
Boric's progressive campaign includes ambitious promises that reflect the significant generational change underway in Chile.
Borik prioritizes a green, sustainable post-pandemic recovery, and has promised to raise taxes on the wealthy to fund public spending and welfare programs.
He wants to make Chile more inclusive than ever.
Boric confirmed on Tuesday that his cabinet would be gender-equal, adding that "women will be the heroes", and that he hopes to include those beyond Santiago to recognize "the diversity and diversity of our country". .