Bachelet calls for opposition unity at a tribute event and warns that "I am going to stay here, contributing"

One hour and 14 minutes after the scheduled start time, the gates of the Municipal Theater of La Pintana opened and gave way to the most anticipated vehicle of the day: the one that transported former president Michelle Bachelet. Eleven days after announcing the end of her candidacy for Secretary General of the United Nations, the former head of state arrived at the venue the opposition had prepared as an act of redress, an event that became the first major activity to unite the entire sector around her and former president Gabriel Boric, the two leading figures of the left and center-left. Boric, in fact, arrived together with Bachelet. The two got out of the same car and were received by the mayor of La Pintana and host, Claudia Pizarro (DC). At the entrance, Bachelet was also greeted by one of her close figures, Senator and PS chair Paulina Vodanovic, who even took a selfie with the former head of UN Women. That is how Bachelet arrived at the La Pintana Theater. Inside the venue, she was received with applause and cheers by hundreds of people. Several of them were leaders of political parties, who fought to be in the front rows of the venue, which was mostly filled up to the second floor by neighbors who had waited outside for more than two hours. All the opposition party presidents arrived at the theater in La Pintana. In addition to Vodanovic, there were Raúl Soto (PPD), Gael Yeomans (FA), and Lautaro Carmona (PC). Several secretaries general were also present, along with mayors such as Tomás Vodanovic (Maipú), Matías Toledo (Puente Alto), and Karina Delfino (PS), as well as senators and deputies. The event also featured representatives from the governments of Brazil and Mexico, the two countries that supported her UN candidacy when the government of José Antonio Kast withdrew its backing. Some leaders were unable to enter the venue, which had been prepared for the political world. "It's very full," they were told by the organizing team. During the wait, PS secretary general Arturo Barrios had to become the emcee. He asked attendees to sing various chants in favor of the former president and to wave the Chilean flags that had been placed on each seat. On two occasions, a small group of those present shouted insults at President José Antonio Kast. Barrios had to intervene and ask them to change the chant to one in favor of Bachelet, to avoid trouble. Beforehand, former ministers Camila Vallejo (PC) and Jeannette Jara spoke in favor of the former head of state. With that setting, at 7:15 p.m., the event began. The one who took the microphone for the official hosting was former Minister of Culture Carolina Arredondo. She did so at a moment when the crowd sang happy birthday to Bachelet (she turned 75 on Tuesday), a minute of silence was held for the fallen corporal Cristopher Aguilera, and the authorities were introduced. On that occasion there was an applause meter, which Bachelet won by a wide margin. The podium was closed out by Boric and Jeannette Jara. Arredondo also presented a video about Bachelet's career, set to the song "Dancing Queen" by ABBA. Then, the former minister reviewed the former head of state's biography. A message of unity for the opposition After the formal introductions, Arredondo gave the floor to Claudia Pizarro, who delivered the first of five speeches. The host paid tribute to the former president and focused on reinforcing the call for unity of the sector gathered at the Municipal Theater of La Pintana. "Bachelet is a source of pride, and unity is the only path to lift up Chile. She thanked Escalona for pushing the unity of the sector. How many times has petty infighting devoured the greater cause," was one of the remarks she made. After Pizarro, Arredondo introduced the La Pintana Youth Orchestra, which, among other songs, performed "Michelle" by The Beatles. Then came Boric's turn, who also arrived accompanied by his partner, Paula Carrasco. The former head of state highlighted several of Bachelet's achievements and milestones in her career. He also acknowledged her UN candidacy, which he himself had announced in New York a year ago, noting that she had pursued the cause even in the face of the looming threat of a veto from Donald Trump's U.S. government. Boric did not criticize the government of President José Antonio Kast, as he has done in part of his recent interventions. However, like Pizarro, he reinforced the call for unity and positioned her as a key figure for that goal: "President Bachelet's role in the unity of progressivism is invaluable." After Boric, a video recorded by Heraldo Muñoz was shown — the former foreign minister who led the group in Chile that promoted her UN candidacy — and then it was Paulina Vodanovic's turn. The senator and PS chair was the first to directly attack Kast (one hour and 15 minutes after the event began), stating that his government had committed an "affront" that, at the same time, harmed Chile. Like those who spoke before her, she also called on the opposition to unite, arguing that "the disputes are far less than what unites us." Gloria de la Fuente, former undersecretary and now head of Horizonte Ciudadano, Bachelet's foundation, also spoke, focusing on her experiences alongside Bachelet and what she described as an example at the international level. Moments later, it was Bachelet's turn. The crowd once again chanted the former president's name, as she closed out the event. In her address, Bachelet thanked everyone for the gathering. She once again acknowledged that her UN candidacy had been difficult and reviewed part of her career, as well as the "values and principles that have guided me in life and that I am not willing to compromise." "If I make people uncomfortable, it's because I believe in democracy. The truth is, it is a tremendous honor that I was vetoed for that. Principles are not traded away for a position," she said about her failed candidacy. At one point, Bachelet illustrated how full the venue was by greeting "Ximena," who said she was sitting on the floor. As expected in the days prior, Bachelet also reinforced the call for unity of the sector: "We need to restore trust and rebuild collective projects. Only with unity can we offer the country an alternative." Bachelet even danced when they sang happy birthday to her one last time. She did so only after giving hints about her future, closing with: "For my part, I will continue contributing, from Chile and from wherever I can contribute. Those who thought that after this I was going to go home, I have some bad news for you. That is not going to happen. I will stay here, contributing."