On December 20th, 2021, Gabriel Boric became Chile’s youngest president-elect. As he’s known for showing off his arm tattoos and being strongly against wearing suits and ties, he’s the pride and hope of today’s Chilean generation. He also happens to be a Swiftie.

During a public appearance back in December, a group of Chilean Swifties ran over to him and jokingly asked if he was a Swiftie. To their surprise, he reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a wallet-sized photo of the singer. Similarly, Boric is just as unpredictable when it comes to his aspirations as president, and that’s in a good way. Why did he happen to have a photo of Taylor Swift on hand? I honestly don’t know, but what I can tell you is some of the many wonderful things that he hopes to do during his presidency.  

Although the 35-year old president-elect will only be inaugurated into office in March of 2022, he has already expressed many of the things that he hopes to do while in office. As he comes from a generation that has been strongly against the economic model left behind by the Pinochet dictatorship, he claims that it is time for an overhaul of Chile’s economy and society. During one of his speeches, Boric proudly stated, “I know that the future of our country will be at stake next year. That is why I want to promise you that I will be a president who will take care of democracy and not jeopardize it, a president who listens more than he speaks, who seeks unity, who looks after people’s daily needs, and who fights hard against the privileges of the few and who works every day for Chilean families.” 

Additionally, Boric added that it’s his generation’s right that they not be treated as “consumer goods or business,” adding that he would no longer allow the country’s poor to “keep paying the price” of inequality. He’s also promised to fight the climate crisis by stopping a proposed copper-mining project in Chile and has also called for the end of Chile’s private pension system, which was the main part of the neoliberal economic model set by Augusto Pinochet. 

Of course, hearing his hopes and dreams for presidency did not sit well with all, especially with those with concerns for the economy. Although Boric pledged to enact major reforms to Chile’s market-led economic model, he has boosted the market and currency since his speech, which has been good for investors and markets. He said, “This Cabinet’s mission is to lay the foundations for the great reforms that we have proposed in our program…” while also cutting out “structural inequalities.” With his new cabinet, he hopes to promote sustainable growth and the fair redistribution of health. 

Speaking of his cabinet, on Friday, January 21st, Boric announced his ministerial team, which is led by 14 women and 10 men. This is the first ministerial cabinet anywhere in the Americas to be dominated by women, with the average age being 49. Boric proudly announced, “We have put together this group of people who are well-prepared, who have knowledge and experience, who are committed to the programme of changes that the country needs, and have the capacity to combine viewpoints, different perspectives and new visions.” With his cabinet, Boric will finally complete Chile’s transition into democracy, with his ministerial picks proving his hopes to build a fairer and more inclusive country.

To sum up, Chile awaits a bright and exciting future with Gabriel Boric as their president, as he’s been one of the few people to step into power hoping to fight for what’s right. He aspires to promote transformative change and equality for all in a country that has not known it for years. The rest of the world stays eager for what Chile’s next president has to offer, it’s only a matter of time. 

*Thank you to Dylan A. for telling me about this. I would have had no idea if it weren’t for your help. :)))

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