First-term senator Alejandro Guillier seems to be enjoying a Trump-like political ascent, but his policies have more in common with the center-left

A TV celebrity aims to become president so he can shake up a profoundly conservative political establishment, but this time it is not Donald Trump in the United States but a leftwing, green-minded former news anchor in Chile who is milking his fame to make a surprisingly strong challenge for power.

Alejandro Guillier, a veteran journalist who launched the weekly TV show Zero Tolerance, has surged to second place in the polls in recent months, which puts him in a strong position to represent the ruling Nueva Mayoría (New Majority) coalition in the presidential poll on 19 November.



There is still a long way to go, but the first-term senator appears to be enjoying an almost Trump-like political ascent, first to become the only upper house representative of his small Radical Social Democratic party and now, as primary campaigns are about to begin, to have pulled ahead of candidates from bigger parties in the governing bloc.

In the latest Adimark poll, Guillier was backed by 25%, while his nearest rival on the left had a mere 4%. The favourite, however, remains former president Sebastián Piñera, a conservative billionaire who has a 29% support rate despite multiple corruption allegations.

We need to make a qualitative leap to a freer society with greater equality. We must reinvent ourselves Alejandro Guillier

The Economist has suggested that Guillier could yet emulate Trump by riding a populist wave to snatch victory. But despite the parallels in trajectory and celebrity, the two could not be further apart in attitude and ideology.

“Yes, I am popular because for 25 years, I was on TV and radio, reaching the homes and workplaces of Chileans,” Guillier said in a phone interview with the Guardian. “But I am as distant from the Trump administration as I am from the Venezuela government. For me, it’s important to build a consensus.”

His policies – increased spending on health, education and pensions; improved access to abortions; greater autonomy and authority for local government; wider recognition of indigenous rights – have much in common with those of the outgoing centre-left president Michelle Bachelet, who cannot stand against him because she has reached the end of her one-term limit.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Alejandro Guillier: ‘But I am as distant from the Trump administration as I am from the Venezuela government.’ Photograph: Elvis Gonzalez/EPA

Even if Bachelet could run, she probably would not be selected. The president’s approval ratings are around 25% thanks to corruption scandals involving her son, unpopular appointments and perceived failure to respond effectively to devastating forest fires and floods earlier this year.

Guillier says he would do more to strengthen Chile’s climate resilience.

“It will be a major issue of the campaign. Chile is experiencing evident climate change,” Guillier said in a phone interview with the Guardian. “Environmental issues have been tackled very slowly. We need better planning, infrastructure development and to introduce more native species into our forestry industry.” He also called for better regulation of mining and more investment in renewable energy.

There is little sign yet that the local media see this as a key concern. Since the last fire was extinguished, coverage has rapidly moved on. But Guillier says the public are on his side when it comes to a clean-up. “Citizens are increasingly demanding better production standards for copper mining. This is a sensitive issue, especially among the young.”

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Far from being a nationalist, Guillier says he will support greater regional integration and trade agreements. Having just returned from a trip to China, he also sees a future of closer links to Asia – as well as the US and Europe. With Trump taking a more protectionist stance, he predicts China – which already accounts for 28% of Chile’s trade, compared to 16% for the US – will play more of a leadership role. “They think Latin America, Asia and the greater part of Europe will align in defence of free trade, greater globalisation and mutual growth agreements.”

The left, he says, needs to offer a more compelling, idealistic vision of what the future can be, rather than just managing an essentially neoliberal system that focuses on individualism and rent-seeking.

Whether the Chilean establishment and society are any more willing to embrace these progressive ideas when offered by Guillier than they were when proposed by Bachelet could decide the outcome of the election later this year.

But the former journalist is enough of a populist to assert that he is more in step with voters than the established parties.

“Our society is more progressive than its economic and political leaders,” he said. “Chile has dramatically changed in the last 10 to 15 years. I’m very proud of what has been accomplished. People look at Chile with respect, but we need to make a qualitative leap to a freer society with greater equality. We must reinvent ourselves a thousand and one times.”