María Elvira Criticizes Chilean Communist Candidate: "Chile Needs a Leader Who Isn't Afraid to Denounce Cuba's Regime"

With the Chilean presidential elections just hours away, Cuban-American Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar issued a strong message against communist candidate Jeannette Jara. This came after Jara refrained from labeling the Cuban regime as a dictatorship, instead blaming its issues on hurricanes and the U.S. embargo.

Salazar commented, "Jeannette Jara describes Cuba as 'another democracy,' despite acknowledging censorship, a single-party system, and a lack of freedoms." She added, "This is not ignorance; it is an open defense of a criminal dictatorship that has oppressed the Cuban people for 66 years."

The Republican legislator emphasized, "Chile deserves a leader unafraid to condemn the murderous Cuban dictatorship," and she voiced her support for right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast, who is predicted to lead in the first round of voting this Sunday.

Cuba and Jara: A Complex Relationship

Jeannette Jara, former Labor Minister under Gabriel Boric’s administration and presidential candidate for the Communist Party of Chile, has had a fluctuating stance on the Cuban issue throughout her campaign.

In April, she stated that Cuba "is not a dictatorship" and that "every nation chooses its government," while blaming the embargo for the humanitarian crisis and presenting the regime as a "different" case compared to other countries accused of human rights violations.

Months later, she acknowledged that "clearly, Cuba is not a democracy," yet she continued to avoid calling the system a dictatorship. Her admission sparked sarcasm even within the Chilean left, such as Senator Juan Luis Castro's remark that Jara "has de-communized herself."

Jara has consistently argued that Cubans should "decide their political fate themselves," and in her latest remarks, she again resorted to the "blockade" narrative and even hurricanes to explain the island's poverty and lack of freedom.

Her evasive stance has particularly alienated Cuban emigrants, who view such rhetoric as a painful minimization of the crisis faced by their families on the island.

Chile's Election Day: Kast Leads the Pack

According to a recent analysis by El País, José Antonio Kast, supported by María Elvira, is favored in prediction markets, holding a roughly 70% chance of winning the presidency.

Although Jara was leading the polls ten days ago, forecasts suggest her path to a runoff would be challenging against any right-wing candidate.

Based on market trends and the latest surveys before the electoral silence, the most likely scenario is a runoff between Jara and Kast on December 14, where the far-right candidate is expected to have a significant advantage.