Jeannette Jara, a former labor minister, has won the primary election for left-wing parties with a surprising margin of over 60% of the vote. The 51-year-old lawyer and Communist party member will represent Chile’s incumbent government in November elections against center-right and far-right contenders.
Jara’s victory comes as the country faces growing concerns about organized crime, migration, and economic sluggishness. Her opponent, Carolina Toha from the Democratic Socialist party, received around 27% of the vote. Jara has vowed to build a more democratic and fairer Chile, responding to the threat from far-right forces with unity, dialogue, and hope.
Jara’s win is seen as a shift towards hardliners within Boric’s coalition, but analysts describe her as less dogmatic and more diplomatic than some of her peers. As labor minister, she implemented programs that increased minimum wage and reduced working hours, earning praise from critics.
Chileans will now face a tough decision between Jara’s left-wing government and the rising right-wing candidates, including José Antonio Kast and Evelyn Matthei. The November elections will determine who will lead Chile into its 2026-2030 term.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jun/30/chile-jeannette-jara-communist-candidate