Bachelet's shortcut

30 September 2026 Tribute to Michelle Bachelet Photo: Andres Perez 30 September 2026 Tribute to Michelle Bachelet, in the commune of La Pintana, attended by former President Gabriel Boric and opposition authorities. Photo: Andres Perez Andres Perez CommentsSurprisingly, former President Bachelet opened the door to a new presidential candidacy, just seven months into Kast's government. A couple of weeks ago, in an interview in Spain, she had ruled out that possibility, but politics is like life: things change. And nothing guarantees that in the years remaining to elect the next government, she will rule it out again. Bachelet may dismiss her option once more, but if she has already changed once, she could change a second and a third time. Simply put, more than three years out, she opened a door that will not be easy for her to close. Her name has been inscribed as the central piece on the opposition's chessboard, and the effects of this move can no longer be avoided. It is not easy to understand why the former head of state decides to send this signal so far in advance. Does she want to organize around herself an opposition that has failed to regroup after a resounding defeat? Does she truly want to be President for a third time and knows that by merely hinting at it she makes it very difficult for anyone else to compete, including Gabriel Boric? Was it a counterpunch against President Kast, seeking to install the issue of succession when the current head of state has been in office for barely seven months? All of the above?Strictly speaking, Bachelet's intention does not matter, because all these questions assume things that are already happening. Any government is troubled when a former president announces she will run in the next contest when she is still far from a year into the new administration, anticipating a debate that logically begins to compete for relevance with the authority's agenda. It is also true that at this stage it helps the opposition organize, but it does so around a figure who today symbolizes the past more than the future and, moreover, a past that includes serious questions about her second administration. It will therefore be a titanic task to prevent her role as a candidate from anticipating controversies about her track record, a risk of wear and tear with a horizon of more than three years. Finally, Bachelet's move strikes any renewal effort in the opposition world, making it nearly impossible for alternative leaderships to emerge. The reverential, almost religious attitude her supporters have toward her figure today leaves no room for anyone to attempt to challenge her. Complications and realignments across all sectors is what Bachelet achieved with a double "I think I will." The opposition emerges from paralysis and irrelevance, not on its own merit, but by resorting to the same wildcard they have used for the past fifteen years. Nothing new, no reflection or self-criticism about what has happened in recent times. Not a single idea for the present nor a proposal for the future. The easy shortcut requires no effort and demands no other leadership. It is clear that Bachelet does not change, that she has been consistent with her style and convictions over the years. The big question is whether Chileans are still the same. By Max Colodro, philosopher and political analystMore about:Presidential candidacyPoliticsOppositionWithout self-criticismNEWSLETTEROpinionSaturday, AMTensions of ideas, opposing views, and clear analysis: elements to reveal the issues that divide opinions and will set the agenda. By subscribing you are accepting the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policies of La Tercera.