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Biobío Sets Course for Runoff Election: Productive Sectors Demand Security and Reactivation

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The ruling party candidate, Jeannette Jara, and the Republican Party's standard-bearer, José Antonio Kast, will compete in the presidential runoff after leading preferences both nationally and in the Biobío region.

The election day brought a surprise with Franco Parisi's rise to third place, exceeding projections and displacing other contenders. Further behind were Johannes Kaiser of the National Libertarian Party and Evelyn Matthei of Chile Vamos, while Harold Mayne-Nicholls, Marco Enríquez-Ominami, and Eduardo Artés received minor support.

In Biobío, the results prompted immediate reactions from economic and productive sectors, where concerns about security, formal commerce, and reactivation are noted, alongside expectations for the scenario unfolding in December.

The final decision between Jara and Kast will take place on December 14th, in a runoff marked by the close contest between both candidacies.

René Muñoz, manager of the Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag), stated that the results of this presidential election reflect a country that participated with normality, order, and democratic commitment, something particularly valuable in the Biobío region, which concentrates a significant portion of the country's forestry activity.

He added that regardless of who leads the next government, it is essential that the runoff strongly incorporates issues affecting the southern macro-zone. "The forestry sector is in a critical situation: arson attacks, threats to workers, destruction of machinery, and a deteriorated security climate that affects not only productive activity but also the lives of thousands of families," he affirmed.

"What we expect from both candidates is clarity in their proposals and firm decisions to restore security in rural areas, ensure that forestry workers can perform their duties without fear, and protect investment and operational continuity in a key sector for employment and the regional economy, along with recovering the necessary stability to reactivate productive development."

Similarly, the president of the Chilean Wood Corporation (Corma), Rodrigo O'Ryan, emphasized that the guild expects "security to remain central to the proposals of the candidates advancing to the runoff. For a productive sector that generates employment, investment, and development, having safe environments is fundamental to working, growing, and planning for the future."

"We hope that the elected authority decisively promotes pro-forestry policies that allow for the recovery of areas affected by fires, reactivate afforestation and reforestation, and continue promoting wood construction as a sustainable and necessary solution," O'Ryan stated.

It is crucial, he added, "to place special focus on small and medium-sized forestry enterprises as well as contractors, who are the heart of our industry's productive chain and an engine of employment for communities."

A Call for Reflection

Sara Cepeda, president of the Concepción Chamber of Commerce, Services, and Tourism, highlighted the normality and civic commitment with which the election day unfolded, noting that this behavior "confirms the country's respect for democracy."

Looking ahead to the runoff, she called on citizens to reflect on "what is best for Chile," emphasizing that the next government must address urgent challenges, such as restoring security, boosting economic growth, and listening to small and medium-sized commerce businesses.

The leader affirmed that the sector maintains expectations that a new political cycle will allow for reversing problems affecting local commerce and offering better conditions to face the coming years.

"We See a Glimmer of Hope"

Likewise, Manuel López Cartes, spokesperson for the established commerce in Talcahuano, valued the order and civic commitment demonstrated by the Biobío region during the election day. He stated that the country and the region expressed themselves clearly, defining two candidates with very different proposals for the presidential runoff.

For the guild, he explained, Jeannette Jara's candidacy represents continuity with the current government, while José Antonio Kast offers a different perspective, with an emphasis on economic reactivation and security, issues that are especially urgent for local commerce, he said.

He affirmed that Talcahuano faces a complex scenario: "We have a weakened economy, a declining commerce, and an increase in illegal trade that occupies the streets and prevents work."

He criticized the lack of support from the presidential delegation, the Undersecretariat for Crime Prevention, and the Regional Ministerial Secretariat of Public Security, which has contributed to the economic and labor deterioration of the municipality.

Despite this, he said he maintains hope that a new political cycle will allow "organizing the region, recovering security, and opening opportunities for formal commerce." He added that areas like La Poza, Caleta Tumbes, the Port of Talcahuano, and the Bilbao neighborhood must once again become safe and thriving economic hubs.

Looking towards December, López expressed that there is an opportunity to drive changes and restore confidence: "We want to be part of this process and a new horizon for Talcahuano and the region. It has been a difficult year, but we see a glimmer of hope in José Antonio Kast's presidential option."

Collaboration and Shared Vision

With the scrutiny concluded and the results of presidential candidates advancing to the runoff and elected deputies, the Chamber of Production and Commerce (CPC Biobío) called for collaboration and a shared vision to address the challenges currently facing the region.

"We need to work in unity, with a team spirit and full willingness to move Biobío forward. The challenges we face require collaboration, shared vision, commitment to the development of our people, but today more than ever, a great sense of urgency."

"From the multi-guild organization, we offer our complete willingness to collaborate, convinced that only through public-private articulation and the sum of all wills will we be able to face the great challenges and move our region forward with the strength and potential we know it has," expressed Álvaro Ananías, president of CPC Biobío.

Regarding the presidential runoff, the multi-guild leader called for responsibility and commitment to the future of our region and the country. "Beyond legitimate differences, what we need is to work on what unites us, with a willingness to work together, with a national vision and team spirit. Biobío deserves that all authorities and social actors work towards a common goal: promoting development and growth as drivers of opportunities for our people," Ananías maintained.

Certainties and Pro-Investment Public Policies

For the general manager of the Association of Exporters of Manufactures (Asexma Biobío), Alfredo Meneses, the central point of interest for the guilds is addressing the complex situation the region is experiencing in economic terms.

"There is talk of a potential investment we could have of about 19 billion dollars, but the structural fact is that we have an unemployment rate of 10.1%. The economy moves on expectations, certainties, and signals, and that is what we expect to undertake a great transformation in our region's economy because the industrial sector has lost the weight it once had. We need to strengthen strategic sectors that currently drive progress because the latest figures have only shown deceleration."

We hope, in a runoff, "to have a government that provides clear signals and definitively delivers public policies that our region can take charge of with this 2050 Plan, which we hope will be quickly structured to respond to the faltering regional economy," concluded Alfredo Meneses.

Source:Tradenews.cl