“We must speak to all young people, even those who don’t believe in this system. And that means a project that stays true to its convictions but opens itself to representing the broader majority.”
Chilean newspaper El Siglo report on a recent youth event held to rally support and develop policies for the Presidential campaign of Jeannette Jara, the candidate selected by the Unity for Chile electoral alliance, in November’s elections.
The voices of representatives from the JJCC (Young Communist League), JS (Socialist Youth), JR (Radical Youth), JL (Liberal Youth), the Broad Front, and Party for Democracy (PPD). Agreement reached to promote a series of self-organised meetings across the country, open to social organisations and youth movements, with the aim of developing proposals to enrich Jeannette Jara’s presidential programme.
Santiago, July 2025: At a political breakfast held this morning at the headquarters of the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (Chile’s Trade Union Congress), the youth wings of the Unity for Chile coalition kicked off joint efforts ahead of November’s presidential elections, agreeing on a territorial and policy-based action plan in support of Jeannette Jara’s candidacy.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Young Communist League, the Student Front of the Broad Front, the Socialist Youth, the PPD Youth, the Radical Youth, and the Liberal Youth—demonstrating political convergence following the results of the 29th June primaries, in which Jara won by a wide margin as the ruling coalition’s candidate.
The key agreement from the meeting was to launch a series of self-organised gatherings across the country, open to social organisations and youth movements, with the goal of drafting proposals to shape Jara’s presidential agenda.
“We believe Chilean youth can be a decisive force in this election. We have the chance to push for a transformative alternative, but that requires our voices to be heard in the programme,” said Catalina Lufín, President of the Young Communist League.
The role of young activists during the primaries—though with varied levels of support—was crucial in digital and grassroots mobilisation, as well as in universities. Social media, mass student gatherings, and cultural and sporting events were key in shaping the debate and winning over younger sectors, often absent from traditional campaigns.
With these lessons in mind, youth leaders agreed that the challenge now is to move beyond mere formal endorsement of the candidacy and into a phase of collective development, incorporating the different visions expressed during the primaries.
“We want Jeannette Jara’s programme to include the most important points from all the progressive candidates. There are elements from Gonzalo Winter, Carolina Tohá, and Jaime Mulet (all candidates at the primary won by Jeannete Jara) that should be part of a shared synthesis,” said José Miguel Gallo, President of the Liberal Youth, who also stressed the importance of broadening the campaign’s appeal to independent and moderate sectors.
Collective Building, Beyond Party Lines
A recurring theme at the meeting was that the campaign must go beyond institutional and party activism. The call was to work from grassroots connections, engagement with social organisations, and digital outreach with messages that resonate with those who do not yet feel part of this movement.
“We must speak to all young people, even those who don’t believe in this system. And that means a project that stays true to its convictions but opens itself to representing the broader majority,” said Javier Hormazábal, President of the Radical Youth.
To achieve this, the main agreement reached was to organise a series of local and sector-based meetings across the country, aiming to gather demands and concrete proposals to feed into Jara’s programme from the youth’s perspective. These will be self-organised spaces, open to social organisations, youth collectives, student unions, feminist and environmental groups, and dissident movements, with the goal of shaping a future vision that connects with new majorities.
“Today, we’re not flying party flags. We’re convinced that unity is the only way to secure the majority we need in November,” said Claudio Calabrán, President of the Broad Front’s Student Front, who noted that this youth alliance builds on existing collaboration in student movements and local activism.
Over the coming weeks, a formal launch of this youth policy agenda is expected, with a calendar of activities including open assemblies, thematic forums, and digital meetings.
With four months to go until the first round of voting, progressive youth aim to establish themselves as a political force with their own voice—and the ability to reach unorganised sectors of Chilean youth—in an effort to expand support for the social transformation embodied by Jeannette Jara’s candidacy.
- This article was originally published in El Siglo on 10 July 2025, and was translated to English by Francisco Dominguez.
