Chilean President Gabriel Boric bid farewell to supporters on Saturday, just four days before the official end of his term on March 11, addressing a crowd of more than 4,000 in Plaza Constitución, outside La Moneda Palace in Santiago. Speaking from the palace balcony, Boric pledged to leave office with his “head held high and clean hands,” emphasizing accountability and his commitment to public service. The 40-year-old leader, who became the youngest president in Chilean history when he assumed office in 2022, urged his supporters to organize politically, warning that “we have to regain our political majority” in the face of opposition forces.
Boric’s tenure ends amidst sharp political friction with his successor, José Antonio Kast, whose early decisions have already strained Chile’s transfer-of-power process. Tensions escalated over the Chinese submarine cable project, prompting the U.S. State Department to revoke the visas of Transport Minister Juan Carlos Muñoz and two advisors, citing threats to regional security. Meanwhile, Kast has forged ties with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Shield of the Americas summit in Florida, a coalition of 13 right-wing nations focused on combating organized crime and irregular migration, two key issues that boosted his electoral victory in December.
During his farewell address, Boric highlighted Chile’s autonomous foreign policy, linking it to his long-standing support for the Palestinian community in the country. “I see Palestinian flags, whose right to exist and to end the genocide we have firmly and with conviction defended from the Government. No to war!” he declared. Chants of “No to war” rippled through the plaza as he stressed that Chile “does not choose between powers” and “defends its autonomy and its sovereignty,” refusing to subordinate the nation to external forces.
Boric’s speech was accompanied by left-wing allies, including socialist and communist ministers, as well as local mayors such as Tomás Vodanovic of Maipú. He thanked the Broad Front, Socialist, and Communist parties for their support during his four-year administration and reaffirmed his commitment to social justice, equality, and dignity in Chile. “On Wednesday we left La Moneda, but we will continue fighting for a fairer, more equal, dignified, and better Chile,” he said.
While Boric did not directly announce a political comeback, speculation is rife that he may seek a second term in the future, following the precedent of former presidents Michelle Bachelet and Sebastián Piñera. Supporters shouted, “We’ll be back!” waving flags from Boric’s 2021 campaign. Felipe Reyes, a 33-year-old social worker attending the farewell, expressed hope that Boric could return depending on whether Kast fulfills his campaign promises. “We have to see how many of his promises Kast will keep, since his campaign was mired in a lot of misinformation and fear, and now we’ll really see what he will or won’t do,” he said.
The farewell gathering, organized by the citizen group Unidos por Boric, drew a diverse crowd of thousands, with attendees ranging from young activists to retirees like 75-year-old Haydée Jiménez, who described Boric as “the best president of Chile since Salvador Allende.” She expressed confidence that he would return to power, citing improvements in senior pensions and his energy and dedication as reasons to support a future candidacy.
As Chile transitions to Kast’s government, the nation faces both domestic and international scrutiny. Boric leaves office at a time of internal political polarization and shifting global alliances, with his successor forging right-wing regional partnerships while grappling with controversies that have already prompted U.S. intervention. Boric’s parting message, emphasizing autonomy, dignity, and continued activism, signals that his influence on Chilean politics may endure well beyond the formal end of his presidency, and that the battle over the country’s political direction is far from over.
