In a move that has stirred up political tensions, the campaign team of presidential candidate Jeannette Jara has announced a restructuring of its spokesperson lineup. This shift has raised a key question in the final stretch of the campaign: will former Interior Minister Carolina Tohá take on a public role in the candidacy?
The departure of Laura Albornoz, Tomás Hirsch, and Gael Yeomans has paved the way for the incorporation of PPD senator Ricardo Lagos Weber and independent senator Alejandra Sepúlveda as new spokespersons. According to the team, the adjustment responds to a communication redesign to face the final weeks before the election.
Controversy Surrounding Tohá’s Potential Involvement
The change comes amid the controversy surrounding Albornoz’s role on the ENAP board and a Comptroller’s Office investigation into international trips financed by the state-owned company. However, what is capturing political attention is the possibility of Tohá joining the campaign, which some interpret as an eventual attempt to reinforce the candidacy towards the political center.
Differing Perspectives from the Government and Opposition
From the government side, Acción Humanista deputy Tomás Hirsch, one of the outgoing spokespersons, valued the arrival of new figures, stating, «For the second round, it is always necessary to strengthen the teams, incorporate new names, and add wills, so it is a normal process.»
In contrast, PPD Secretary-General José Toro Kemp ruled out the need for Tohá to assume a role on the team. He added, «She is in a different role, she is undoubtedly supporting this candidacy, but it is not her responsibility to take on any kind of role.»
From the opposition, UDI deputy Daniel Lilayú argued that the adjustments respond to the need to move the strategy towards the center to expand the electoral base and avoid defeat. «All the changes that Jara is effectively making are to prevent that moderate center-left group, who could eventually have supported her, from going to Evelyn Matthei’s candidacy,» he indicated.
Maintaining Ideological Stance or Seeking Broader Appeal?
The government has insisted that the modifications do not imply an ideological shift, but rather aim to reinforce the campaign structure and consolidate Jeannette Jara’s candidacy for November.
As the presidential race enters its final stretch, the potential involvement of Carolina Tohá in Jara’s campaign has become a point of contention, with differing interpretations from the government and opposition. The restructuring of the campaign team reflects the strategic considerations at play as Jara seeks to secure victory in the upcoming election.
