The Supreme Court of the Christian Democratic Party (DC) agreed to suspend former president Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle's membership following his meeting with presidential candidate José Antonio Kast. The encounter, which stirred controversy in the officialism and DC, has been described as a 'political blow' by the Republican. Various DC leaders expressed bewilderment and pain over the gesture, 20 days before the runoff.
On Tuesday, José Antonio Kast, the presidential candidate of the Republican Party, met with former president Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle of the DC, prompting immediate questions from the officialism and Christian Democratic ranks. The photograph of the meeting has heightened internal tensions in the DC, which backs Jeannette Jara in the December 14 runoff.
The DC Supreme Court agreed to suspend Frei's membership due to this meeting, according to La Tercera reports. The party's national secretary, Alejandra Krauss, stated that militants are 'bewildered' and require clear definitions. 'It does not correspond to the national board to make those definitions', Krauss clarified, adding that they will evaluate submitting the background to the court and summoning Frei to a meeting.
Kast defended the encounter from his command, stating it is not seeking 'one more political support', but to discuss the country's priorities. 'Can it be a political blow for others? It can be (...) it is not my final intention that political blow. I believe that political blow they have given themselves, when they insisted on continuity', the candidate asserted.
Carolina Tohá, former Interior Minister and PPD militant, described the photo as a 'blow' causing 'pain' and 'worry'. 'I would never imagine that those distances [with the PC] are greater than those he may have with José Antonio Kast and the Republican Party', Tohá expressed. The DC demands Frei's exit from the party, as the runoff approaches with intense campaigns from both sides.
