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The Chilean political world has been involved in a heated controversy after Senator Ximena Rincón, president of Democrats, issued harsh criticism in relation to Michelle Bachelet’s appearance on the ‘Against’ strip. The statements of Rincón, who had previously played important roles in governments led by Bachelet, generated a series of responses and reflections within the national political spectrum.
In a letter spread on her social networks, the parliamentarian expressed her disappointment at seeing Bachelet participating in a campaign that, from her perspective, promotes misinformation and deepens divisions in society. Rincón, with a firm tone, highlighted the importance of Bachelet’s figure as a symbol of national unity and questioned his participation in the aforementioned group.
“Many of us who had the privilege of serving in their governments learned the importance of the exercise of public office. We are disappointed and shocked that, being a figure that should be a symbol of national unity, he appears on the Contra side,” Rincón declared. And she added: “As a former president, she has the full right to freely express her opinion and option regarding the December 17 plebiscite, but it is very different to participate in what we believe is a misinformation campaign that contributes to deepening divisions.”
But the worst were Rincón’s expressions on the National State television program. There she said, of the former president, «“Either she understood something different from what she says or she is lying, and I can’t imagine her lying.”
Reactions of Ana Lya Uriarte and Daniella Cicardini
The reaction was immediate. Figures close to Bachelet, mainly members of the Socialist Party, came out against Rincón’s criticism. Ana Lya Uriarte, former minister of the current government, regretted the senator’s statements, describing them as painful and considering that they violate codes of loyalty. Uriarte highlighted Bachelet’s acuity and defended his ability to understand the issues in depth.
«It seems to us that it is going much further. lor felt painful, it transgresses some codes in which we Chileans generally operate, which is loyalty, when the President tells him either he didn’t understand what he read, or he is lying. She worked for several years with the President, she knows perfectly the level of acuity and how incisive it can be to unravel meaningsscope of the terms, and the consequences,” Ana Lya Uriarte assured 13C Radio.
Ana Lya Uriarte added that Ximena Rincón says that the former president “is not understanding or is poorly advised, as if infantilizing a trial of a former president… it shocked me a lot. The letter in the first paragraph reaches insolence, and in the last one reaches arrogance, because it says ‘Talk to me and I’ll explain how things are’… in Chilean: ‘You went too far’”
Furthermore, deputy Daniella Cicardini joined the voices that rejected Rincón’s words, calling them unacceptable and insulting towards former President Bachelet. Cicardini emphasized Bachelet’s achievements in defending human rights internationally, rejecting suggestions of a lack of understanding or being poorly advised by the senator.
The exchange of opinions has revealed the deep divergences and tensions that exist within the Chilean political sphere. Beyond the discrepancy over Bachelet’s participation in the ‘Against’ campaign, the debate has touched sensitive fibers in terms of loyalty, the interpretation of political positions and, ultimately, the perception of the suitability of the public figures.
