This Sunday, both the ruling party and the opposition faced each other in primaries to define their cards for the municipal and regional elections on October 27. While the ruling party registered primaries in 47 communes to compete only for mayors, the opposition coalition Chile Vamos (UDI, RN and Evópoli), by failing to achieve the necessary prior agreements, left the definition of mayoral candidates in 20 communes in the hands of the citizens. and governors in two regions.
Although, according to the president of RN, Senator Rodrigo Galilea, “Chile Vamos and all the opposition to the Government (of President Gabriel Boric) are shaping up very well” with the weekend results, it was the mayoral candidates who participated as independents within their pact those who managed to significantly prevail over the official candidates of the parties in the sector.
According to data provided by the Electoral Service (Servel), with 100% of the tables counted, a total of eight independent candidates won victory in their respective communes. In comparison, RN achieved six wins, the UDI was left with three and Evópoli with two.
One of the most notable victories for RN was in the commune of Lo Barnechea, where Felipe Alessandri beat the UDI candidate, Carlos Ward, in the primary.
Likewise, a significant victory was recorded in Puente Alto, where the former minister of the Piñera government, Karla Rubilar, despite presenting herself as an independent, also secured her place. The candidacy of Rubilar, who could not vote in said commune, since he is registered in Colina, is supported by Renovación Nacional and the current mayor Germán Codina, although he received criticism from Senator Manuel José Ossandón—also an RN activist.
Meanwhile, in La Florida, Daniel Reyes, the political dolphin of Mayor Rodolfo Carter (former UDI militant), won a resounding victory that was also celebrated by the Republican Party and José Antonio Kast. The UDI as a party was absent from said celebration.
A concern shared by both the opposition and the ruling party was the level of participation, influenced by the voluntary nature of the process and the forecast of a rainy day. Despite this, the parties intensified their campaign efforts in the final days, trying to mobilize their bases and secure the largest number of votes possible at this crucial stage on the road to the October elections.
Alessandri wins contest in Lo Barnechea
One of the communes that has captured the most attention is Lo Barnechea, where the race between Felipe Alessandri (RN) and Carlos Ward (UDI) promised to be one of the closest.
However, with all 116 tables counted, Alessandri took a wide lead over Ward, which allowed him to declare himself the winner very early. The former mayor of Santiago registered 8,938 votes, corresponding to 57.02%, compared to 6,736 (42.98%) for the former councilor.
“I had to win,” was Alessandri’s first statement to the press, and he thanked Ward for honoring a commitment to work together, which – according to the RN candidate – both signed in the office of current mayor Cristóbal Lira. (UDI), who is not up for re-election and had committed his support to the former communal chief of Santiago.
“Here it is not a race between enemies, we were contenders in a primary in our sector, in Chile Vamos, and I receive the victory with humility, but this is just beginning,” said Felipe Alessandri at a press point in which he was accompanied by Carlos Ward.
The UDI faced significant pressure to maintain control of Lo Barnechea, after current Mayor Lira publicly backed Alessandri, arguing that he offers the necessary continuity for the commune. This support generated tension and intense competition, with both sides confident of their victory.
“We came to congratulate him, leaving aside the differences and misunderstandings during the campaign, and we are happy with the number of votes despite the rain,” Ward said.
Karla Rubilar sweeps Puente Alto
The RN candidate and renowned Piñerista, Karla Rubilar, former Minister of Social Development, was seen as the favorite and did not disappoint her supporters, contesting the campaign for mayor with Erick González (UDI).
The dispute in Puente Alto was marked by criticism from the senator and former mayor of the commune, Manuel José Ossandón (RN), who described the primaries as “chantas” and alleged that they were organized only to validate Rubilar’s candidacy, stating that his rivals They didn’t even campaign.
In the midst of tensions in the opposition due to the municipal battle, the president of the Board of Directors of the Electoral Service (Servel), Andrés Tagle, ruled out that the Puente Alto councilor and nephew of the senator, Felipe Ossandón (Ind.), has registered his candidacy for mayor of that commune. “He is not a candidate, he is only getting sponsorships,” Tagle pointed out.
The current mayor, Germán Codina (RN), who is not up for re-election and opted for Rubilar, stated that “the entire Ossandón family was dedicated to boycotting this process.” In response to the senator’s criticism, the community leader told the press that “there is someone who did not understand anything about what democracy is.”
Rubilar thanked the support of Codina, whom he accompanied to vote, and declared that the overwhelming support received at the polls this Sunday “is recognition of his work and that of his municipal officials for the residents of Puente Alto.”
It is worth mentioning that Karla Rubilar could not vote this Sunday because she did not change her electoral address in time. The former deputy appeared registered in the Colina commune. From her command they explained to The fourth that Rubilar is now registered in Puente Alto, but will only be able to vote there for the October elections.
UDI absence in the triumph of Carter’s dolphin in Florida
In Florida, the situation was equally competitive, with four candidates in the race. Rodolfo Carter, the current mayor, supported Daniel Reyes, his political dolphin, who obtained the majority despite the ground that Janett Fernández, an independent candidate, had gained.
Alejandra Parra (UDI) and Felipe Mancilla (RN) completed the scenario, with Parra weakening Reyes’ base by also offering himself as a continuity option for Carter, which ultimately did not work.
With 100% of the tables scrutinized, Reyes obtained 67.59%, Fernández 16.73%, Mancilla 10.35% and Parra 5.34%.
“In defeat, dignity, and in victory, magnanimity,” quoting Winston Churchill, Mayor Carter highlighted the triumph of his successor, but also regretted the absence of the UDI in the celebration.
Accompanied by former minister Cecilia Pérez, Carter recalled that he stopped being a UDI militant 10 years ago. He acknowledged that the negotiation with his former political store for this primary was not easy, but he “would have expected the UDI to be present here like José Antonio Kast and RN were.”
And one of the most notable conflicts occurred with the union candidate Parra. The friction between the two had complicated negotiations in the area. Last Thursday, in the midst of the definitions on the right, the founder and leader of the Republican Party gave his support to Daniel Reyes, who after winning the primaries mentioned that what Kast has done is “manifest a patriotic commitment, with a sense of unity, which represents the entire sector.”
In the absence of the UDI, the victory, Reyes concluded, “we enjoyed it with the people who accompanied us.”
Carter’s strategic moves, aligning himself with the Republican Party, demonstrate his intention to consolidate his political power on the right, although at the cost of generating divisions and controversies within his own sector.
Recently, the current mayor of La Florida expressed his support for Ruth Hurtado, the Republican candidate for mayor of Recoleta, thus strengthening his alliance with Kast.
Sector sources assure that Carter would also have agreed to support Macarena Santelices, the Republican candidate for governor of the Metropolitan Region. This movement is seen as retribution for Kast’s gesture towards Reyes, consolidating a network of mutual support that could redefine the local political map.
Carter’s support of Ruth Hurtado has also caused controversy. In Recoleta, his support for the Republican candidate has been to the detriment of the Chile Vamos candidates, Mauricio Smok (UDI) and Felipe Cruz (RN), which has generated unrest among the leaders of these parties.
Another episode that has fueled tensions was Carter’s attack against Mario Desbordes (RN). The mayor of La Florida criticized the former minister, pointing out that “Desbordes is the candidate of Chile Vamos, but he is not the candidate of the entire opposition,” alluding to the support that lawyer Aldo Duque receives from the Social Christian Party.
Iglesias will seek to snatch Independence from the Broad Front
The mayor of Independencia Gonzalo Durán (Social Convergencia) will not be able to seek re-election for serving three terms in office, which is seen on the right as an opportunity to snatch the municipality from the commune that this year was the scene of the kidnapping of the former lieutenant. Venezuelan and Maduro dissident, Ronald Ojeda.
The commune was also emerging as another tight definition among the independents supported by Chile Vamos. Rodrigo Barco (RN) took the lead at the beginning of the vote counting, but finally Agustín Iglesias (UDI) gave the surprise, leaving Manuel Jara (Evópoli) on the way.
With 100% of the tables counted, Iglesias obtained 4,262 votes (61.13%); Boat 2,259 votes (32.40%); and Jara 451 preferences (6.47%).
The campaign became strained because Senator Manuel José Ossandón (RN) supported Iglesias, to the detriment of Barco. Leaders who supported him, in fact, want to take the legislator to the party’s supreme court.
While Barco focused his campaign on proposals for greater public security for the commune, Iglesias also took the opportunity to criticize the current mayor Durán.
Winners of the Chile primaries Let’s go through the commune
Peñalolen
- Claudia Mora Vega (RN) with 2,579 votes (71.07%).
Vicuna
- Mario Aros (Ind) with 2,700 votes (65.47%).
With with
- Pablo Rojas Daydi (Ind) with 1,547 votes (36.98%).
Limache
- Luciano Valenzuela Romero (Ind) with 2,436 votes (50.85%).
Quilpue
- Carolina Corti Badia (RN) with 2,236 votes (46.53%)
Machali
- José Miguel Urrutia Celis (Ind) with 2,006 votes (68.09%).
Coihueco
- Juan Muñoz Quezada (UDI) with 1,522 (53.07%).
Portezuelo
- Adán Zapata Figueroa (RN) with 972 (51.81%).
Mulchén
- Juan Francisco Vilches Riquelme (RN) with 1,832 (54.31%).
Freire
- Claudio Cárcamo Paredes (Ind) with 678 votes (36.83%).
Pucon
- Sebastián Álvarez Ramírez (Evópoli) with 1,669 votes (62.11%).
The puree
- Frann Barbieri Fernández (Evópoli) with 1,133 votes (62.08%).
futron
- Leonila Sáez Alarcón (UDI) with 1,241 votes (47.24%).
Lance
- Eduardo Uribe Campos (RN) with 1,451 votes (53.17%).
Aysen
- Luis Martínez Gallardo (UDI) with 2,578 votes (64.48%).
guatecas
- Bans Puinao Carimoney (Evópoli), with 262 votes (51.78%)
Candidates for governor in Coquimbo and Aysén
The opposition political pact registered its candidates to compete in the gubernatorial primary elections in two important regions of the country: Coquimbo and Aysén. In these areas, Chile Vamos nominated representatives of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI), National Renewal (RN) and independents linked to Political Evolution (Evópoli).
Coquimbo Region
According to data provided by the Electoral Service (Servel), the candidate chosen to run for the Regional Government of Coquimbo on October 27 is Cristóbal Julià, an independent linked to Evópoli. Julià obtained 42.85% of the preferences in the primaries, with a total of 8,556 votes, thus consolidating himself as the representative of Chile Vamos in this region.
The results of the primaries in Coquimbo were the following:
- Cristóbal Julià (Ind-Evópoli): 42.85% (8,556 votes).
- Roberto Vega (RN): 30.48% (6,086 votes).
- Cristián Rondanelli (UDI): 26.66% (5,323 votes).
Aysen Region
In the Aysén Region, Marcelo Santana, from the UDI, will be the one competing in the regional governor elections representing the conglomerate. Santana obtained 56.29% of the votes in the primaries, with a total of 3,770 votes, surpassing his competitors and ensuring his candidacy.
The results of the primaries in Aysén were the following:
- Marcelo Santana (UDI): 56.29% (3,770 votes).
- Fernando Guzmán (RN): 33.31% (2,231 votes).
- Jorge Sepúlveda (Ind-Evópoli): 10.41% (697 votes).
“In these times, having managed to mobilize, motivate and make it understood that the primaries are a democratic and legitimate electoral process, is very good news for the country,” concluded the RN helmsman, Rodrigo Galilea, who traveled to party headquarters to highlight the results of the primary elections.