The emergence of Jeannette Jara as the presidential candidate of the “Unity for Chile Coalition” marks a significant turning point in the country’s current political trajectory. Her nomination by a broad center-left alliance -including the Communist Party of Chile- symbolizes both the consolidation and transformation of the Chilean left as it seeks to redefine its position in the face of deep political, economic, and social challenges. As the country prepares for general elections on November 16, 2025, Jara’s candidacy not only challenges the resurgence of the conservative and far-right bloc but also represents a major reconfiguration within the leftist bloc.
Chile’s present political landscape is shaped by the legacy and direction of President Gabriel Boric’s administration. Elected in 2021 as the youngest president in Chilean history and representing a new generation of left-leaning leadership, Boric’s presidency began with ambitious reformist goals such as comprehensive constitutional reform, structural pension reform, and increased social spending. Jeannette Jara, Boric’s former Minister of Labor, stands out not only as his political heir but also as a figure who seeks to ground the progressive agenda on more pragmatic and electorally appealing foundations.
Jara’s political career is rooted in trade union activism, public service, and legislative negotiations. During her tenure as Minister of Labor, one of her major accomplishments was the passage of labor reforms that reduced the workweek from 45 to 40 hours and strengthened workers’ rights.[1] These policies garnered widespread support across the center-left spectrum. Her popularity stems from a technocratic and reformist image that contrasts with the traditional perception of the Communist Party as ideologically rigid or disconnected from mainstream governance. Securing roughly 60% of the votes in the primaries and thus winning the coalition’s nomination, Jara outpaced more centrist figures like Carolina Tohá and progressive MP Gonzalo Winter, demonstrating her capacity to unite different ideological currents within the coalition.[2]
Jara’s platform for the 2025 elections centers on three main pillars: economic development, social equity, and public security. Criticizing current lithium extraction contracts for granting excessive advantages to multinational corporations, Jara advocates for the establishment of a national lithium company that would maintain strategic control over this mineral—crucial for the global green transition—while still cooperating with the private sector. Her approach reflects a Keynesian and developmentalist economic orientation, supporting a state that plays a more proactive role in wealth distribution and industrial policy.
On social policy, Jara emphasizes continuity with Boric’s redistribution agenda while placing greater importance on institutional pragmatism. Her support for the partially implemented pension reform during Boric’s term reflects an acknowledgment of public dissatisfaction with Chile’s highly privatized pension system. However, her approach is characterized by structural adaptation rather than radical reform. This strategy aims to address inequality and public discontent while ensuring sustainability. Her proposals seek to combine ideological commitments with technocratic efficiency and to avoid the political deadlocks that undermined many of Boric’s more ambitious reforms.
Public security stands out as the most politically sensitive issue of the campaign and an area where Jara must tread carefully in a complex electoral context. In recent years, Chile has experienced a significant rise in violent crime and drug-related activity, particularly in urban areas such as Santiago and Valparaíso. These concerns have notably shifted public opinion and created fertile ground for the political right, especially figures like José Antonio Kast and Evelyn Matthei, to advocate for tough-on-crime policies.
Jara has adopted an approach that seeks to address these fears without succumbing to authoritarian populism. She supports increased funding for law enforcement, modernization of police capacities, and the use of biometric border control technologies—all within a framework that protects civil liberties and constitutional norms.[3] Her stance aims to draw a clear distinction between authoritarian security rhetoric and democratic approaches to public order.
From a geopolitical perspective, Jara’s candidacy also signals potential changes in Chile’s international alignment. While maintaining strong economic ties with the United States and Europe, she emphasizes the importance of diversifying trade relations, particularly with emerging powers such as China and India. This position aligns with a broader Latin American trend toward rebalancing foreign partnerships within a multipolar global economy. Her foreign policy stance also includes a commitment to regional integration, human rights, and multilateralism. This reflects Chile’s longstanding diplomatic traditions while advocating for a stronger Latin American presence on the global stage.
However, Jara’s path to the presidency remains uncertain. The 2025 elections will take place in a context significantly different from previous electoral cycles. Since the reinstatement of mandatory voting in 2023, electoral dynamics have changed considerably, bringing previously disengaged sectors of the population to the polls. This shift has generally favored more conservative candidates. Recent municipal and constitutional referendum results have clearly shown the right wing’s advantage. Current polls indicate that former defense minister and center-right mayor of Providencia, Evelyn Matthei, along with the authoritarian-leaning far-right populist José Antonio Kast, currently lead Jara in hypothetical second-round scenarios.[4] Matthei represents the more moderate and technocratic face of the right, appealing to business interests and the conservative middle-class electorate. Kast, on the other hand, offers a more ideological and polarizing alternative, with rhetoric reminiscent of past authoritarian regimes.
Given Chile’s two-round presidential electoral system, coalition-building and voter realignment will be decisive. Jara must not only consolidate support from the center-left but also appeal to moderate and independent voters disillusioned with the current administration. Her campaign must delicately balance maintaining a progressive identity with addressing voter demands for stability, security, and economic opportunity. Moreover, despite her personal moderation, her association with the Communist Party may limit her appeal among centrist voters due to Cold War-era prejudices and concerns over ideological extremism.
In conclusion, Jeannette Jara’s candidacy encapsulates the broader tensions and transformations within Chilean politics in the post-transition era. Her emergence as a pragmatic, reform-oriented candidate from the Communist Party challenges entrenched political dichotomies and reflects the evolving nature of leftist politics in Latin America. Her success will ultimately depend on her ability to offer credible solutions to pressing issues such as crime, inequality, and institutional trust, and to build a broad electoral coalition capable of countering the region-wide shift to the right. The outcome of Chile’s 2025 elections will shape the near future of the country’s political economy and serve as a barometer for the viability of progressive governance in an increasingly volatile and fragmented democratic landscape.
[1] “Jeannette Jara is a coalition Communist who wants to be Chile’s next president”, Reuters, https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/jeannette-jara-is-coalition-communist-who-wants-be-chiles-next-president-2025-07-22, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2025).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] “Chile’s far right advances as gang violence reshapes election”, Financial Times, https://www.ft.com/content/57548dbe-8f88-4fb5-abf1-fd04e58c6f23, (Date Accessed: 23.07.2025).
