With darts at Transantiago, ex-minister Mañalich, the constituent process and the truckers, President Gabriel Boric valued the importance of citizen participation when adopting public policies. He indicated that he sees criticism as “an opportunity to improve” when it is constructive.
The president of the Republic, Gabriel Boricparticipated this Saturday in the Fair of Social Organizations and the Public Account of Citizen Participation of the Governmentin front of the Natural History Museum of Quinta Normal Park.
Accompanied by the Minister Secretary General of Government, Camila Vallejo, the Undersecretary of the Segegob, Valeska Naranjo, and the Director of the Division of Social Organizations, Javiera Hausdorf, the President valued the role of civil society in politics and reflected on the importance of criticism.
“With citizen participation we are interested in uprooting (some problems) in Chile. One of the things that was installed during the dictatorship was the depoliticization of civil society. And we believe that what you are doing in your neighborhoods is political, ”Boric declared during his speech before local leaders and organizations.
In the President’s opinion, “politics is not only the heritage of what happens in Parliament or in the negotiations now encadísimas of the new constitutional process. Politics is not only what happens at Casa Piedra or at dinners between businessmen and professional politicians. Politics is also you, it’s what you do in the neighborhoods “.
accept criticism
“Neighborhood associations, cultural centers, foundations, NGOs, empowered civil society are essential, also when they criticize the government. Civil society and citizen participation cannot serve us only when we are in favor. Sometimes and surely there will also be criticism, ”said Boric.
“Those of us who are in a position of institutional power, and I say this starting with oneself, we have to try to get out of the position where one gets defensive in the face of any criticism (…) and one says ‘hey, they don’t recognize all that we are doing, in Tax Reform, in 40 Hours, in pushing the constituent process despite the fact that the right resists, in decentralization, security, etc. but we can do more, always”he assured.
At that moment of the speech, the President reflected that “It is good that we learn, in an exercise of humility, to listen to criticism from the best possible version. When criticism is constructive, there is an opportunity to improve.”
Review of Transantiago and ex-minister Mañalich
The Head of State recalled the Transantiago process and statements by the former Minister of Health, Jaime Mañalich, as examples of the impact of the lack of participation when adopting public policies.
“The Transantiago would surely not have turned out the way it did if the people who made it had traveled by bus at the time. Or, do you remember the phrase of former Minister Mañalich, who was unaware of the poverty and overcrowding in the southern area of Santiago, regarding the pandemic, when it took so long to provide support to those who the State, and with reason about the health crisis, was it preventing them from going to work?” Boric asked.
Given these examples, the President emphasized that “citizen participation is not a favor we do you, but a right that the organized people have earned, which has an impact on having better public policies.”
“We want participation to be the hallmark of our government. We have made progress, but for sure we lack it, ”he commented.
Comment on truckers
“Participation is what will allow us to improve and contribute to delineating the great transformations that we need: the Tax Reform, the Pension Reform, the 40 Hours and each one of those projects… and well, Trains to Chile, which from time to time, the truckers are in charge of reminding us of the importance”Boric said to applause from those present, in line with what he had previously stated about the truckers’ strike.
Finally, he delivered a message to those present: “You are doing politics and it is very ungrateful sometimes to do politics. But when we realize that through collective organization we have managed to change the life of our community a little for the better, we realize that politics makes sense again. That’s why we’re here.”