Lessons from Patricia Bullrich for Chile's Right
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- por Richard Kouyomdjian
- Columnas
For Patricia Bullrich, you are either on the right or on the left, and if you are on the right, you must support the government and refrain from criticizing it for any reasons other than constructive criticism aimed at achieving better governance.
The national senator of Argentina Patricia Bullrich was visiting Santiago on Monday, May 4, and Tuesday, May 5, 2026, as part of activities organized by La Otra Mirada and AthenaLab, also participating in meetings with the President of the Republic of Chile, the mayor of Santiago, and in an event organized by the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile under the UC Initiative of President Sebastián Piñera.
Based on her experience as Argentina’s Minister of National Security, she provided us with more than one masterclass on the political management of public security, an area where Argentina significantly surpasses us, from which we can extract four main factors that contributed to their successes, which we struggle to achieve: 1) political will to act, 2) a clear public security strategy with available resources and objectives, 3) perhaps as important as the previous two, intelligence, and 4) the support of the entire judicial system, including judges and the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The results in Argentina are evident. Rosario is under control and has minimal organized crime activity, with no more blockades in the federal capital, which, by the way, now looks orderly, without street vendors, shanties, or assaults when walking its streets. It is clear that it is a city that enjoyed a better past, which today is expensive, but its safety for tourists gives it a charm that other capitals lack, allowing enjoyment of its cafés and exquisite cuisine.
While it is true that Patricia Bullrich is currently engaged in a discussion with the closest circle of President Milei, the purpose of this column is not to delve into Argentine politics, nor into her role as a leader in the Argentine Senate for the ruling party and those who identify as part of LLA, the party of the President of the Republic of Argentina. It is clear that no one is a prophet in their own land.
Security is important and serves as an example for Chile, but what drew the most attention during her visit was the call she made to those present at one of the events she attended, where the attendees were primarily from the center-right and right in Santiago, about the self-evident need for the entire right to decisively and energetically support the government of José Antonio Kast.
As is her custom, she did not mince words. She told us that if we do not support President Kast, the next President will be Gabriel Boric. For Patricia, you are either on the right or on the left, and if you are on the right, which includes everything that is not left or center-left, you must support the government and not engage in criticism for any reasons other than constructive criticism aimed at achieving better governance, something that several from the center-right and even from the President’s own party do not regularly practice, and that, due to their risky actions, jeopardize the transfer of the presidential sash to someone who is not from their own side, but rather from the opposing side, which prevents us from progressing in Chile.
The government expects to see all right-wing forces supporting and not criticizing the national reconstruction plan of Minister Quiroz, and the public security initiatives against criminals and delinquents led by Minister Steinert. They expect to see everyone supporting the border management of the presidential delegate for the Northern Macrozone, the actions of the police and military forces in the Southern Macrozone, and the excellent work being done by ministers such as Fernando Barros, Francisco Pérez Mackenna, and Martín Arrau with their respective teams in fundamental aspects of national security such as national defense, foreign relations, and connectivity in Chile, which, combined with a healthy public treasury and a secure Chile, allow for the vision of the country that everyone wants and dreams of, the Chile for which Captain Arturo Prat, Lieutenant Ignacio Serrano, Sergeant Juan de Dios Aldea, and many other sailors gave their lives.
