In the midst of the uncertainty that reigns around who will lead the Municipality of Providencia, political forces outline strategies and pacts. The current mayor, Evelyn Matthei (UDI), has not yet communicated her decision on whether she will seek re-election or compete for La Moneda. Everything indicates that she will do the latter and the commune in the eastern sector of Santiago emerges as a key focus of interest in the next municipal electoral contest in October.
Looking ahead to the municipal and regional elections and ahead of the registration limit for primaries set by the Servel for April 10, neither the ruling party nor the opposition have defined who their candidate will be to compete for the Providencia building seat. in case Matthei ventures into the presidential race, although some names are already being heard.
In this context, the general secretaries of the Party for Democracy (PPD) and the Socialist Party (PS), José Toro and Camilo Escalona, respectively, have stated that their groups are betting on former authorities to lead the race.
The leader of the PPD stated this Monday that the current councilor Josefa Errázuriz will be – as an independent – the PPD’s card to reconquer the municipality. Errázuriz, former mayor of the commune between 2012 and 2016, has expressed her willingness to contest the position again. “My name is available,” she said a few days ago to The Clinic.
Despite her historic victory over Cristián Labbé (UDI) in 2016, Errázuriz’s management was marked by financial controversies and embezzlement of funds, which led her to face accusations from the Comptroller’s Office. However, the former mayor denies any irregularity in his management.
“Without a doubt, our best independent candidate is our beloved councilor Josefa ‘Pepap Errázuriz, who from the PPD has our full support so that she can represent the dream of all the residents of Providencia,” Toro declared to the press.
In April 2019, Josefa Errazuriz was found guilty by the Comptroller’s Office for the improper payment of 31 million pesos intended to cancel overtime for 285 municipal officials. However, she did not receive any sentence, since until a few months ago she had already prescribed the crime.
On the other hand, names such as María Fernanda Villegas, former minister of Michelle Bachelet’s government, are being considered from the PS as a possible contender. Meanwhile, Ana Lya Uriarte also appears on the political scene, although her participation is not yet confirmed.
The uncertainty regarding the candidacies adds to the pact negotiations between political parties. The deadline to close agreements and possible primaries expires on April 10, the date on which it is expected to have defined the electoral panorama for the municipal elections in October.
In addition to Providencia, other mayoralties in dispute such as those of Santiago, La Florida, Puente Alto, Paine, La Reina and Antofagasta are also in the focus of political attention, while the parties work hard to build alliances and consensus.