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The attention of the political environment of Chile has suddenly turned to the case of the Deputy Secretary of the Interior, Manuel Monsalve, who was reported for sexual abuse and rape. This fact, in turn, has put aside other issues that would certainly be more urgent, especially given the proximity of the regional and municipal elections.
How did this situation come about? Explanations will certainly abound, but the case reminds us of this story I once heard: The mother is bathing her five-year-old son, the child feels her naked body and suddenly she takes a penis and asks:
–Mom, is this my brain?
– Oh no my love, not yet…
In this world, which is still dominated by a strong sense of sexuality, there is no doubt that more than one political decision is made in the heat (literally) of an erotic context. It was not for nothing that Henry Kissinger said that “power is the great aphrodisiac.” At the level of Chriofail, perhaps more than a good ceviche – to which some attribute aphrodisiac powers – the use of power, on the one hand, together with the other part with the pleasure of sharing with him those who have power, to have come together in this matter which today has complicated the government, the left and especially the Socialist Party. Not only does monsalve fight in the PS (which has now frozen his membership) but he was one of its star players. He was also a member of the New Left party, one of the most important socialist groups, led by Camilo Escalona.
Anyway, we know that the mere mention of the subject of ‘sex’ makes the antennae stop and everyone takes notice. It is also not surprising that this scandal has not come to anything from the right, which until a few days ago many of its heroes were in serious legal problems due to what was published in the case of the law that sent Luis Hermosilla to prison.
The worst of the political implications of this case is that it creates a a no-win situationthat is, a situation in which whatever you do or say, you will always lose. It is exactly what is happening to the government and the left at the moment.
We will see in particular how this situation manifests itself in relation to the two main characters in the case. In terms of the general orders of justice, the legal principle of the presumption of innocence must be applied in Monsalve. Only once there is a final decision declaring him guilty, could he be sentenced. However, we know that the judgment of conviction is already in the air at the level of public opinion. It is not unreasonable to say that Monsalve’s political career, regardless of the court’s decision, is over.
The case of the plaintiff also has important aspects, for now, at least at the time of writing this note, her name cannot be published – that is a right that plaintiffs of sexual abuse receive. However, there is no doubt that in the environment of the two characters, it is necessary to know who the person is about whom the rest of the public only knows that she is a commercial engineer and that she is 32 years old. of age. Be that as it may, anonymity is a right of the complainant and, I think, she must consider that there are strong reasons for doing so, although, with the -way, not all women who report sexual abuse do so anonymously, the case of those women who have denounced Donald Trump is a good example that could, for them, to make their names public, to be helped.
Regarding this choice of anonymity that the complainant has adopted, the fact may undoubtedly have emphasized that, although the crime of which Monsalve is accused is very serious, the political consequences of the This event dominated the headlines and had the biggest impact. The eventual emotional and physical effects the incident must have had on the plaintiff tend to be left behind by the political impact it has had on the government, the left and on the party to which Monsalve belongs.
In any case, this political influence of the clients who caused uncontrollable sexual movements has always been present. Those who are a little older should remember John Profumo. In 1963 the scandal was discovered in London when it was revealed that Profumo, who was the Minister of Foreign Affairs at the time, was having an extramarital affair with the model Christine Keeler. That wouldn’t be particularly surprising if it weren’t for the fact that the beautiful model also had sexual relations with none other than the naval attaché of the Soviet Union, Yevgeni Ivanov. The revelation of the affair cost Profumo his job and the scandal contributed to the defeat of the conservatives in the 1964 elections.
The Monsalve case also creates a crisis for Gabriel Boric’s government and the worst thing is that – as we said before – this kind of situation leaves those involved in a dead end: whatever what they say or do, their political enemies. you will use your words or actions to gain political advantage. To make matters worse, in the case of a sexual crime (although rape should be considered an act of violence, but Chilean legislation emphasizes sex as a motive) no act or expression puts to increase the sound of the program and the curiosity that comes from the public determined by the emotional approach to information.
For now, at least for the time being, and following the trend of public opinion, any attempt, even a very small one, to consider other versions than the one already accepted the creation of political problems, especially for the Monsalve party, which is why we are immediate. against suggestions that there could be a “turn” in this whole issue, as suggested by Flavia Torrealba, president of the Social Green Regionalist Front (FRVS) party, these assumptions were discarded without further investigation , especially by the Socialist leader. Party, Paulina Vodanovic, who in any case finds herself in a difficult position to deal with accusations that affect someone who until then was a well-known member of her community, and at the same time time the female voters should not be supported. alien
While he was in this complete case that led to his departure, Monsalve would have moved in a very clumsy way, like a conquistador without a compass, on the other hand, it may happen that there are more cases behind the scenes and perhaps the best detective. resources are needed to arrive at all the truth of the truth, because sometimes when things seem very clear it can be false: “Yes, yes, too sure,” continued Poirot, almost to himself. “The actual evidence is often vague and unsatisfying. You have to research them… filter them. But here everything is clear. No, my friend, these experiments were done very cleverly… so cleverly that they beat their own heads. (Agatha Christie: The mysterious Styles case).
By the way, there are times when the simplest explanation corresponds to the truth of the truth, but not always. That’s why we have to get to the bottom of the problem and in a very urgent way, as the detective Hercule Poirot suggests. Although this comprehensive investigation, considering all possible circumstances, would undoubtedly deepen the already complex political aspects of this nose, without forgetting the depth of the personal damage the incident would have caused to the plaintiff.
Sergio Martínez (from Montreal, Canada)
