Strokes to the portrait of a charming lady and a tough politician

Strokes to the portrait of a charming lady and a tough politician

Chile is located, figuratively speaking, "at the end of the world." She took refuge behind the Andean mountains, stretched out in a narrow strip along the Pacific Ocean. For a long time it developed according to the democratic paradigm, which was interrupted in September 1973 with the establishment of a military-dictatorial regime. The return to civilian rule in a peaceful, non-violent way occurred 17 years later under the leadership of a coalition of the Christian Democratic and Socialist parties. At the end of 2005, she nominated a lady for the post of head of state - Michelle Bachelet, who easily defeated her rival, for the first time in the history of the country a woman took the presidential chair.

Politzek

Michelle Bachelet Geria was born on September 29, 1951, was the second child in the family of anthropologist Geria and soldier Alberto Bachelet. She studied at elementary school, then at the lyceum. A touching relationship developed between the girl and her father. By the 13th birthday, he gave his daughter a Colt .38 caliber and taught her to shoot accurately. The coup changed her life dramatically. His father, an aviation general, remained faithful to the constitutional order. He was stripped of his title, repressed. He died in the dungeons of the dictatorship,

Michelle spent almost a year in prison with her mother. They were followed on March 10, 1975 and taken to the infamous Villa Grimaldi, a manor on the outskirts of Santiago that has become a symbol of violence, cruelty and inhuman suffering. The daughter was kept separately from her mother, and for a long time they did not know anything about each other. The prisoners shared the fate of the rest of the detainees, fully experienced the horrors of imprisonment.

Later, they were able to escape from the dungeons and emigrate. First to Australia, where his older brother lived, then to the GDR. Michelle studied at the University. Humboldt in Berlin. They returned to their homeland in 1979, when the bonds of the dictatorship were slightly weakened. Joined the Socialist Party. Collaborated with the Commission on Human Rights. She graduated from the School of Medicine of the University of Chile, acquired the specialty of a pediatrician and health organizer. She is a polyglot. In addition to Spanish, he speaks Portuguese, English, French and German. He also knows a little Russian.

Road to Olympus

She began to work, as they say, on the ground. Then, having entered the civil service, Michelle became an adviser in the ministries of health and defense. I studied at the same time. After studying at the National Academy of Political and Strategic Studies, she became a master of military sciences. She studied at the Inter-American Defense College in Washington.

A significant contribution to the formation of the image and promotion of Bachelet through the ranks was made by a party ally, a prominent statesman Ricardo Lagos, one of the architects of democratic transition, president from 2000 to 2006. He noticed Michelle, followed her development. He offered to take the chair of the Minister of Health (by tradition, women were nominated for this position, and for a doctor this was considered a familiar job). Bachelet successfully coped with her duties.

The next appointment surprised, even shocked many. She becomes Minister of Defense - for Chile this was a landmark event, which testified to the cardinal changes that have taken place in the political life of the country. By agreeing to take this post, she set foot on the path of a professional politician. Thus, a different quality was born, the contours of further upward movement were visible.

In 2005, M. Bachelet takes a decisive step in his career. Announces intention to stand in the upcoming elections. The specificity of the situation was that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Soledad Alvear, a member of the Christian Democratic Party, also had ambitions. The drama of the moment was also in the fact that both ladies almost simultaneously held senior positions in the government. Plus, they were friends.

Storming the height

And rivals, they are allies in the coalition, rushed into battle. Ahead of them were waiting for the primaries as part of the Strategic Alliance, created in 1988. M. Bachelet quickly gained momentum, her rating grew by leaps and bounds. Under the circumstances, S. Alvear chose not to take risks and left the race. Thus, the need for primary elections has disappeared. M. Bachelet automatically became the only candidate from the coalition. But ahead of her were two formidable opponents.

The first round, held on December 11, did not reveal a winner. But the clear leader of the race was determined. It turned out to be a pretty middle-aged lady M. Bachelet. She came close to the coveted figure of 50% plus one vote. If the extreme left had supported the favorite, then she would have stepped over the desired line. And it would be in the hat. But that did not happen.

There was a second round scheduled for January 15 next year.

And Bachelet achieved the legitimate right to take the presidential chair in the La Moneda Palace, located in the historic center of the capital. This was a landmark event in the history of Chile, where men ruled from time immemorial. Of particular importance to the event was the fact that an atheist was at the top of power, moreover, she had three children from different husbands and raised them alone. And all this happened in a Catholic country, where divorces began to be allowed only in 2004.

As president

Having taken the chair of the head of state, Bachelet, without any hesitation, began to fulfill her difficult duties. She began with an unusual step: she formed a cabinet on the principle of equality between men and women. When the president was asked why it was necessary to do this, she jokingly replied: it’s more convenient to dance the waltz.

The fair sex, as before, took the posts of ministers of health and defense. The Christian Democrats (the coalition with this party remained unchanged) received the key positions of ministers of foreign and internal affairs.

Overcoming the gap between the poor and the rich became a priority for domestic policy, which had narrowed significantly over the years of previous activity of democratic authorities, but remained significant. Therefore, a number of social programs aimed at solving this most important task were launched. A large project, which included 63 programs, began to be implemented.

Among the main points: an increase in pensions, the opening of new health centers, free medical care for citizens over the age of 60. Of course, much attention was paid to measures aimed at alleviating the position of women in society. The President knew that more than half of the children are born to couples who have not registered a marriage, and 10% have no official fathers.

Describing the features of the strategy of M. Bachelet, we emphasize her desire to find an acceptable compromise with the right-wing forces, without which the sustainable development of society would be impossible.

By the end of her presidential term, shortened by a constitutional amendment from 6 to 4 years, her approval rating was skyrocketing. If she had been nominated a second time, she would certainly have won. But the law allowed to run again only after one term.

ex-president

Leaving the post with the realization of her duty, she did not go on a well-deserved rest. Soon she was offered to take a no less responsible position on a global scale. She became Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations for Women. She joined the work with her inherent energy, visited many regions of the planet, and everything turned out brilliantly - she won unprecedented prestige.

But her thoughts about the homeland, where the right turned out to be in power, did not leave her. As a result, Bachelet was nominated a second time. This time the drama of the situation lay in the fact that the elections turned into a duel between the general's daughters. The rival turned out to be Evelyn Matei, an old acquaintance. Her father became a member of the junta after the coup. But in fairness, it should be said that he persuaded the dictator to recognize the results of the plebiscite, which opened the way for change.

So two ladies came face to face on the electoral platform. M. Bachelet again won with a large advantage and became president twice. This also happened for the first time.

Before new challenges

Among the priorities of the current administration, which began work as usual in March, was the reform of the notorious binomial system, preserved from the days of the dictatorship. It did not allow minority shareholders to get a seat in the legislature. From now on, this is over. At the same time, there is a danger of a sharp shift to the left, since the Communist Party has entered the renewed coalition.

The government will also have to solve the most acute problem of obtaining a quality education, inherited from previous governments. Now that three student representatives have won seats in the lower house of parliament, there is a real hope to remove from discussion this painful topic that has affected a significant segment of civil society. A number of other important issues are also on the agenda.

... There is a lot of time left before the end of the mandate. But there is no doubt that the second period of Michel's reign will end successfully. In addition, Bachelet has already managed to realize the dream of many generations of compatriots who were even afraid to think about playing a worthy role in the life of the country. And - most importantly - she brought a soft, humane feminine style to politics.