The New President of Chile, Gabriel Boric: A Ray of Hope for the New Generation

As of 2021, the new president of Chile is an eco-friendly millennial leftist without a First Lady, who’s also an ardent defender of human rights, with lots of tattoos and a big dream.

Gabriel Boric is now officially the youngest president in Chile’s history and the first far-right head of state in 30 years. He won the second round of elections on December 19, 2021. The 35-year-old politician and former student leader beat his rival, Jose Antonio Casta, with nearly 56 percent of the votes and now intends to radically change the country’s life through a series of social reforms after his inauguration on March 11, 2022, so now it’s time to learn a few neat facts about this guy!

1. Descendant of emigrants

Boric was born into the family of a chemical engineer whose ancestors emigrated from Croatia to Chilean Patagonia in the late 19th century in search of a better life. The future politician grew up in the picturesque province of Magallanes in the south of Chile, and that’s where he started his political career when he was 27.

FILE PHOTO: Chile’s President-elect Gabriel Boric addresses the media at the presidential palace La Moneda, Santiago, Chile, December 20, 2021. REUTERS/Rodrigo Garrido/File Photo

2. Young activist

While studying law at the University of Chile, Boric was elected chairman of the student union, and in 2011 he became one of the leaders of thousands of rallies against inequality in the education system. Protests spread to the streets, forcing the authorities to negotiate and finally do something. These events determined the future of the activist. Borych graduated from university but did not get his law degree, focusing on his political career. Two years after, he earned a deputy mandate.

3. President of the people

In his election program, Boric promised to increase the minimum wage by 50%, reduce the weekly work hours from 45 to 40, and significantly increase public spending on the social sphere, including health insurance and helping the poor. At the same time, the new president wants to raise taxes for wealthy Chileans and the private sector and fees for mining. This way, Boric intends to build a European-style social democracy in Chile.

Gabriel Boric, presidential candidate for the Social Convergence party, gestures during a closing rally ahead of runoff elections in Santiago, Chile, on Thursday, Dec. 16, 2021. Chilean assets gained Thursday as the lead that left-wing presidential candidate Boric held over conservative Jose Antonio Kast appeared to be tightening, according to unofficial polls circulating in the market. Photographer: Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg