A couple of days ago, the current mayor of La Florida, Rodolfo Carter (former UDI), sincerely expressed his expectation of get to La Monedashowing that he is very sure of being able to overcome the first obstacle, to succeed Gabriel Boric: the support that has consolidated Evelyn Matthei (UDI), community leader of Providencia, on the traditional right.
«Once I finish my work in December, I will compete in the primary of Chile Vamos, I’m going to beat Evelyn “Matthei”he assured in an interview with Agriculture, making it clear what his project is after his period ends in the municipality of the commune in the south-west sector.
What real options do you have to materialize this personal desire, is what we asked Nerea Palma, political scientist and academic from the Diego Portales University (UDP), who in dialogue with El Desconcert discusses the expectations of the former face of unionism.
“In the current scenario, if we think about a presidential primary that would be this Sunday, or even in another month, it is quite difficult for Carter to win a primary in his sector, for example, against Evelyn Matthei,” he begins by saying.
Because? The political scientist argues that, “mainly because this year, since 2024 began, Sump in general has lost prominence political in the current electoral scenario.
“Evidently not being in the spotlight on relevant topics, it seems to me that has played against him that his image appears recurrently in the media and, therefore, that, in general, people consider him as a possible candidate in his sector,” he adds.
“He has a speech”
«On the other hand, Evelyn Matthei has emerged for quite some time as the opposition’s safest presidential candidate, regardless of whether she eventually submits to a primary or not. Therefore, in the short term, it is very unlikely that Carter can really be a competitor for Evelyn Matthei,” adds Palma.
However, it offers a nuance. «If we take into consideration that there is still time for the presidential election, obviously you have a period of time left Carter to grow in his figure as a relevant contender within the opposition if he eventually submits to a primary with Matthei,” he says.
«What is important to highlight is that Carter did has differentiating elements Regarding Evelyn Matthei that can work in his favor, what we saw at least last year, and a little bit this year, but mainly last year, is that he has a speech regarding security issues and problems quite strong,” says Palma later.
Continuing with her analysis along these lines, the political scientist emphasizes that the current communal chief of La Florida, “is one of the mayors who continually made news for going to demolish drug houses, for example. And therefore, this type of policy, ‘in quotes’ of a tough hand against drug trafficking, against the insecurity that exists today in Chile, which is the first priority, could give it an advantage in that electorate that today is willing to “vote for tough public policies on security issues.”
Matthei, well-known and with extensive experience
«But at the moment, I don’t see another political issue where Carter can possibly gain an advantage over Evelyn Matthei, because Matthei not only has a political history and she is known throughout Chile, since she has already been a presidential candidate, she has also been a minister,” Palma says next.
To the above, he adds that the mayor of Providencia has not only “had a vast political career, but is also recognized among her peers as the opposition’s candidate par excellence.”
“So, I think Carter still has some room to grow, but I see it difficultin general, that can have growth it important enough even to give weight to Evelyn Matthei in primaries,” he highlights.
However, it highlights a no small aspect when analyzing how well the scenario is for Carter in his desire to settle in La Moneda. “What I do think is important to indicate as an asterisk, as a possible wild card, is that the candidates who have led the polls are not necessarily the ones who are doing better electorally,” he says.
«Let’s remember the case of Joaquín Lavín in the last presidential election, so it may still be that Matthei ends up losing a possible primary, it may be. But today, in 2024, in June, I see it as very, very difficult,” he concludes.
