José Antonio Kast and Jeannette Jara are gearing up for their second presidential debate, hosted by the Chilean Association of Broadcasters (ARCHI) at the Catholic University. The event, crucial in the lead-up to the December 14 runoff, aims to delve into proposals without descending into confrontations. Both candidates have highlighted different approaches: Kast in avoiding verbal clashes, and Jara in upholding mutual respect.
Hours before the ARCHI debate, scheduled for Wednesday morning at the Catholic University's Campus Oriente, José Antonio Kast has focused his preparation on reviewing programmatic axes such as security and economy, along with contingency issues. His team, including advisors like Cristián Valenzuela and María Paz Fadel, cleared his public agenda Tuesday afternoon to concentrate on the radio event, broadcast by over a thousand national stations. The Republican strategy aims to keep the focus on proposals and sidestep the confrontational tone they attribute to Jara, a member of the Communist Party. “If she wants to fight, let her do it alone,” sources in his circle say, though Kast will not avoid responding to accusations or criticisms of Gabriel Boric's government when appropriate.
During a morning activity on education, Kast hinted: “I have many things to talk about and I don't have to talk about her.” He added: “If they tell me to talk about her, well, I'll say: ‘What did you do as Minister of Labor? Generate unemployment,’ but I'll leave it there.” The campaign views these debates as having marginal impact in a binary election with a largely decided electorate.
Meanwhile, Jeannette Jara, the officialist and Christian Democratic standard-bearer, reinforced her questioning after an event with cooperatives and small businesses. Incidents from the first Hogar de Cristo debate include clashes, such as when Kast labeled her intervention a “commercial break,” to which she replied: “What would be the commercial break? Doesn't your treatment seem a bit disrespectful to you?” Jara warned: “If the candidate disrespects me, as he did last time, I won't tolerate it.” She stressed: “If a presidential candidate is disrespected, what remains for another woman? [...] I think there are certain limits that shouldn't be crossed in politics.”
She also questioned Kast's ties to Miguel Krassnoff, a DINA agent convicted of crimes against humanity: “It's very complex when candidate Kast says he has met with Krassnoff and doesn't believe everything said about him. [...] It's a danger.” The debate will be led by seven journalists, including Paola Ahumada, Coni Santa María, and Daniel Silva as moderator, representing regional diversity. After the event, Kast will resume his tour in the Maule Region, with a meeting in Talca.
