A Historic First in Chile: Jeannette Jara, Communist Party Figure, Chosen as Presidential Candidate by Broad Left-Wing Alliance
At 51 years old, former Labor Minister Jeannette Jara has won the progressive primary by a wide margin, securing 60% of the vote. It’s an unprecedented political breakthrough for the radical left in a country still marked by its dictatorial past.
Jeannette Jara, the Communist Who Could Shift the Chilean Presidential Race
With her genuine smile and deep roots in working-class realities, Jeannette Jara is emerging as the leading figure of Chile’s left. The communist lawyer will represent the ruling coalition in the November presidential election after decisively winning Sunday’s primary. It’s a first in Chilean history: a communist candidate nominated by a broad progressive alliance to run for president. Incumbent President Gabriel Boric is not eligible for re-election, as the Constitution prohibits consecutive terms.
At 51, Jeannette Jara won the primary with 60% of the vote. She decisively defeated social democrat Carolina Tohá (28%), Boric’s party deputy Gonzalo Winter (8.9%), and Jaime Mulet (2.8%), representative of a small green party. Her campaign revolved around a simple but powerful message: “I don’t come from the elite, but from a Chile that gets up early to work.” The daughter of a mechanic and a homemaker, and mother of an 18-year-old son, Jara is the eldest of five children. She entered politics in the late 1990s as president of the student federation at the University of Santiago. With degrees in public administration and law, she later served as Labor Minister under Boric, leading two major reforms: reducing the workweek to 40 hours and overhauling the pension system.
Her ability to unite and build consensus is praised by those close to her. “She knew how to bring people together around a common goal. That’s a skill she’s kept,” says Alejandra Placencia, communist MP and longtime friend. This unifying profile, coupled with a quiet charisma, has drawn comparisons to former president Michelle Bachelet. Her direct, no-frills style contrasts with Carolina Tohá’s, seen as more distant. According to Nerea Palma, analyst at Diego Portales University, Jara appears “more pragmatic, more approachable, and clearly in touch with the loyal base of the majority.”
An Independent Candidate, Beyond the Communist Party
Jeannette Jara embodies a confident yet open left. “She stands firm in her beliefs and doesn’t let anyone change her mind,” says Beatriz Salinas, 27, a student and committed voter. A member of the Communist Youth at age 14, she is now distancing herself from the party’s hardline stance. She has even acknowledged, in defiance of her organization, human rights violations in both Cuba and Venezuela. During the primary, she also kept her distance from Daniel Jadue, the controversial former mayor backed by the party. “Anyone who wants to join the campaign is welcome, including Daniel Jadue if he wants to hand out flyers in the subway,” she said firmly.
Accused of fraud, Daniel Jadue is under house arrest and was unable to participate in the primary. He had already lost to Gabriel Boric in 2021. The day after her victory, Jeannette Jara reiterated her position: “I am the center-left candidate, not the Communist Party’s candidate.” A declaration that could broaden her appeal against right-wing rivals José Antonio Kast and Evelyn Matthei, the current frontrunners in the polls. In her victory speech, she called for unity to confront what she sees as “the threat” of the far right. The upcoming election promises to be crucial in a Chile still grappling with deep demands for change.