According to La Tercera, former minister Francisco Vidal (PPD) said Michelle Bachelet is currently the only leader capable of receiving applause simultaneously from the Christian Democratic Party (DC) and the Communist Party (PC). He made the remarks in an interview with the newspaper, days after the former president expressed openness to a third run for La Moneda.
Vidal, 73, served as minister secretary-general of government during Bachelet's first term and also served in Ricardo Lagos's cabinet. He is now a history professor at Diego Portales University (UDP).
The former minister acknowledged that Bachelet's response surprised him. It came in an interview with TVU, the University of Concepción's television channel. "She thinks for about 10 seconds before answering yes," he recounted. According to Vidal, that "I think so" caused an uproar.
Bachelet's return to domestic politics follows her unsuccessful bid to become secretary-general of the United Nations (UN). Vidal said he had always expected her to return to a leading role, citing her early membership in the Socialist Youth and her detention at Villa Grimaldi and Cuatro Álamos during the dictatorship.
His assessment of unity rests on the event held last week at La Pintana's Municipal Theater to honor Bachelet and make amends for attacks against her. There, he said, Bachelet received enthusiastic applause from Álvaro Ortiz, president of the DC, and Lautaro Carmona, president of the PC. Six party leaders convened the gathering alongside her Fundación Horizonte Ciudadano.
Asked about former president Gabriel Boric, Vidal recalled that he did not govern with the DC. He described an opposition with three core groups: the Communists, the Broad Front and a dispersed Democratic Socialism bloc (PS, PPD and Liberals), with the DC off to one side. "If unity is forced, it doesn't work," he warned.
However, Vidal agreed with former minister Carolina Tohá, who described shifting the agenda toward the presidential election as a mistake. With President Kast's government in its seventh month, entering that discussion now "would be absurd," he said. He listed at least eleven potential opposition presidential candidates, including Jeannette Jara, Camila Vallejo, Tomás Vodanovic and Paulina Vodanovic.
Responding to those who question Bachelet's age, after she turned 75 on September 27, Vidal turned to history. He recalled that Jorge Alessandri ran in 1970 at age 74 and received 34% of the vote. The next presidential election is about three years away, according to Vidal himself.
