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There are those who have been surprised by the announcement of former President Ricardo Lagos to abandon public life in consideration of his advanced age. In truth, what many of us believed was that he had already ceased his political activity when evidently he does not hold a single position that links him to the administration of the State.
Surely what led the former president to make this decision is due to the fact that he is a person who has declared himself agnostic, which is why, we assume, he prefers to read and listen in life to what can be said about him after he is dead, when he turns into dust or ashes Let’s consider that his self-esteem is very high, to the point that many have always accused him of being arrogant, arrogant and too sensitive to criticism, as well as to everything that is said about him. In this sense, he does not want to miss out on that enormous amount of praise and hand kisses like the ones we have been able to see in recent weeks. To such a degree that El Mercurio has moved entire pages to spread tributes and meticulous judgments of someone who was said to have carried out the “best right-wing government” as a leftist.
In this regard, one of the first to highlight his figure was President Gabriel Boric himself, who thanked him, “significantly and emotionally, for the contribution he has made to this country.” An opinion that greatly contradicts the judgments that he, as a student leader and deputy, made regarding Lagos, when he accused him of being “delusional” and “arrogant.” We cannot forget that on the very front of the University of Chile two giant prints were spread with the faces of Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet, blaming them for being the main people responsible for the educational chaos that many of the most prominent figures, yesterday students and today tenants, denounced. of La Moneda.
In any case, Lagos’ decision is commendable if one considers that in the so-called “public service” there are many elderly politicians who are reluctant to assume a dignified retirement, no matter how much they believe that they are in full enjoyment of their physical faculties. and mental. It will be said that in universal history, politicians stand out who made great contributions to their countries after the age of eighty or ninety, which is true, without a doubt, but something exceptional.
There is a reason why today the states and institutions of the world adopt laws that force rulers, judges, bishops and other dignitaries to retire to private life after reaching a certain age, even if it is proven that they are very well. Furthermore, their families and loved ones would always prefer that their parents and grandparents reach their final years of life in the most complete vitality possible and not when senescence takes its toll on them.
We find it pathetic that a government that is so young in age, like the one we have now in Chile, is gradually being joined by people who were already believed to be out of politics due to their advanced age or due to the poor or mediocre performance of the governments they formed. part. Elderly characters who have entered the presidential cabinet, the different ministries or other departments, as well as sent abroad as ambassadors. Surely in the presidential belief that they can contribute to a government accused of being made up of new and inexperienced militants from the parties that are part of the ruling alliance. Even for having incurred scandals and breaches of probity in such a short time. Vices were also displayed by previous governments, although, apparently, with greater skill.
The worst thing is that some of these have a hard time, beyond enjoying the charms of power and a good diet. Such is the case of the Minister of Housing shaken by the corruption of public officials and advisors who conspired to obtain public resources that were intended to solve the housing problems of thousands of Chileans. Likewise, it would be long and annoying to highlight the state of precariousness shown by some parliamentarians who insist on perpetuating themselves as legislators after serving two or more terms and being about to exceed seventy-five or eighty years of age.
It is already seen that there are kings or queens in the world who abdicate in favor of more young heirs, just as the cardinals, or princes of the Church, as they are called, must peremptorily abandon their teaching. Just as the penultimate Pontiff did because of his age and feeling overwhelmed by the problems.
Laws that limit the age of those who hold public office can only establish strict rules without considering exceptions. For the rest, we are among those who think that advanced age can lead us to contribute a lot to politics or the country when we propose to share the experience and wisdom that the years bring. There is a reason why history has often instituted councils of elders, where we would like to see many politicians sitting who, in their stubbornness or egomania, refuse to retire.
In this sense, if Ricardo Lagos were emulated by others, surely they could reap even more praise than once they died. Despite the fact that in Chile, and also in the world, there is a habit of assuming that all these figures are much better than when they were alive. Let us remember that in our gallery of presidents there are several who have betrayed their convictions and promises in power. But in any case, statues are erected to them or even culinary and friendly myths are created, as is the case with those two sandwiches so required in our gastronomy.
The country itself has witnessed in recent days the way in which television and the political class have practically canonized Sebastián Piñera, who has just died in an unfortunate accident. From one moment to the next, the information about the tragedy in Valparaíso ceased, where the death of more than 130 people has already been declared and thousands of homes have been destroyed by fire. In what must be one of the worst catastrophes in our history, and whose news coverage suddenly ceased to attend to the death of the Former President in uniform.
Juan Pablo Cárdenas S.