“This has been, by far, one of the best political training initiatives I have experienced in my life”, is how Peruvian lawyer Christian Aranda described the ‘Republican Model’ bootcamp that we held in the city of Santiago from July 22 to 28.
Aranda, head of Public Relations in the Municipality of Yanahuara, Peru, and member of the Renovación Popular (Popular Renewal) party, currently led by the mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga, is one of the 19 young leaders from 8 countries who participated in the bootcamp. All have returned to their nations (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Mexico, Peru, Peru, Dominican Republic and Uruguay) “equipped” with advanced training, charged with motivation and a renewed passion to make significant changes in their communities. Here you can see some of them:
It was a week of intensive formation and training aimed at learning the keys to the successful republican movement promoted in Chile by José Antonio Kast, president of Acción Republicana (Republican Action – AR) and also of Political Network for Values (PNfV).
The participants competed for 10 places to participate in the bootcamp and went through a process that resulted in an extraordinary group of talented young people who share the values of our Network, have a real trajectory of defense and promotion of life, family and freedoms, effectively exercise leadership roles in the associations in which they participate and want to have a more articulated impact in their communities. The profile of the candidates was so good that we ended up accepting 19, almost twice as many.
The bootcamp was a joint initiative of the PNfV Youth Program, Acción Republicana (Republican Action -AR), Ideas Republicanas (Republican Ideas – IR) and the Partido Republicano (Republican Party – PR). Our host was Toño Kast Adriasola and in attendance were, Lola Velarde, PNfV Executive Director; Rodrigo Iván Cortés, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors; and our President, José Antonio Kast.
Why the ‘republican model’?
A unique experience is taking shape in Chile. An openly conservative political movement, promoter of life, family and liberties, has become in a short time the undisputed protagonist of the country’s life. They are the Republicans, who are growing in number and influence from a solid ‘ecosystem’: a civic movement, Acción Republicana (Republican Action -AR); a think tank, Ideas Republicanas (Republican Ideas – IR); and the Partido Republicano (Republican Party – PR).
There were seven days of intense learning through conferences, workshops, internships, campaign accompaniment, networking, social gatherings, visits to institutions and guided tours that placed the participants in direct contact with the protagonists of the profound and successful cultural and political change that Chile is experiencing. Here is a summary of the day by day:
Monday 22: meeting the Republicans face to face.
On the first day, at an opening breakfast, participants heard from José Antonio Kast about the origin and development of the republican movement in Chile, along with two of its leaders Arturo Squella and Ruth Hurtado Olave, president and general secretary of the PR.
Under the guidance of professor Gonzalo Rojas Sánchez, the students made an extraordinary journey through the history of Chile; and listened to the courageous and hopeful testimony of the protagonism of the young republicans (photo) in the voice of Beatriz Hevia Willer, who presided over the Constitutional Council in 2023; the deputy Cristián Araya, the communicator Tomás Bengolea and José Ignacio Palma, researcher of the Jaime Guzmán Foundation. All of them effectively leading battles on different fronts.
The day closed with a magnificent training in political communication by Patricio Dussaillant, consultant and director of the Department of Applied Communication of the UC.
Tuesday 23: Diving into the model
The second day was spent learning about the inner life of the movement and its distinctive characteristics. The Republican model is a civic ecosystem marked by the mystique of service. Carmen Soza, director of IR, and Sebastián Figueroa, director of AR, presented the keys to its development; and during lunch, the testimonies of Councilwoman Catalina Ugarte, former mayor and founder of the Municipal School of the Republicans, Cristián Balmaceda, and María de Jesús Wulf, deputy director of AR, showed how this “republican seal” is embodied in practice.
Republicans are united by fundamental principles that guide their actions. Professor Carlos Frontaura (photo) gave a vibrant presentation of the political thought of Jaime Guzmán, one of the intellectual roots of the republican movement. And filmmaker Lalo Prieto and Felipe Costabal, the man who has redefined the image of the Republicans, taught how to communicate powerful narratives.
Wednesday 24: in the legislative trenches.
Third day. Trip to Valparaiso, to see the legislative work of the republicans ‘in loco’. The National Congress of Chile opened its doors to us. There were extraordinary trainings with parliamentarians and legislative advisors of the PR and a lunch (photo) with deputies in which stories of courage and hope were shared.
In parallel, Lola Velarde, our executive director, and Rodrigo Iván Cortés, president of the board of directors, had extraordinary meetings with Chilean parliamentarians committed to life, family and freedoms. Thanks to the legislators who accompanied us from Renovación Nacional (National Renewal), Unión Democrática Independiente (Independent Democratic Union – UDI) and PR.
Thursday 25: an immersion in the fundamentals of republican action
The fourth bootcamp day launched students on an immersive journey into the fundamentals of republican political action. Why do they do what they do? What is the deep purpose that drives them?
Politics is a vocation that looks upwards and the politician, in order to fulfill his vocation, must create spaces of hope. It is a call to serve, to spend oneself in favor of others. Extraordinary testimonies of Luis Silva, vice-president of the PR, and Professor Juan Carlos Aguilera (photo). A fire that lights other fires.
Learning from successes and mistakes is essential to face new challenges. Marco Antonio González, executive director of the Docere Foundation, highlighted the importance of this exercise, which requires realism, humility and perseverance. And Álvaro Pezoa, Doctor of Philosophy, recalled that politics cannot be separated from morality; the exercise of power must always be oriented towards the good.
Carlos Soublette gave a magnificent training on data management and strategy. And at the end of the day we shared friendship, bread, wine and a magnificent conversation on how to ‘navigate’ in the political and electoral scenario, thanks to the hospitality of Arturo Squella, who opened his home to them.
Friday 26: beyond the mountain range
The fifth day emphasized the geopolitical vision of the Republicans, with a special emphasis on the Region. Professor Jorge Sahd (photo), director of the UC Center for International Studies, presented a sharp and precise analysis on political risk in Ibero-America. Where threats arise there are also opportunities. And the writer and sociologist Fernando Villegas offered a timely analysis of the singular moment the continent is living and a very interesting question and answer session with special focus on Argentina, Chile, Mexico and Peru.
A ‘crack’ in political communication, Carolina Araya, José Antonio Kast’s chief of staff, showed how to build the candidate’s image in an election.
In a new presentation, Professor Juan Carlos Aguilera analyzed the close link between culture and politics and its challenges in the current situation. An invitation to be bold and generous to create spaces of hope. It was one of the most praised interventions by the students, followed by another that they considered one of the warmest: Andrea Barros, from IR, and María Pía Adriasola, founder of the Cuide Chile Foundation and wife of José Antonio Kast, explained why politics that violates the family is not politics. The family must be protected; it is the first community where we are loved and where we learn to serve. And this care must be lived first hand by those who promote the family in the public sphere. What is really loved is best cared for and protected.
Weekend: training and friendship
Saturday was a day of media training (photo) and a very lively barbecue at the Republican House; and Sunday was a day of rest, worship, joint recreation and warm farewells, like this one from the Spaniard José Retuerta, from Spain:
“Good afternoon guys, I am already at the airport waiting for the flight back to the motherland. It has been an incredible few days full of learning in the political sphere but also in the human and spiritual sphere. I was delighted to learn first hand about the functioning of the republican system. Now I still need to mature everything but I take with me many reflections and inspirations that this bootcamp has given me. These days have helped me to motivate me and at the same time to be more convinced of the need for young people with civic-political concerns to respond to God’s call, whether in the partisan or associative sphere, putting the person at the center and seeking to promote the common good. It has been a pleasure to meet all of you […] I hope we can see each other soon, at the latest at the next Transatlantic Summit of Political Network for Values in Madrid. A big hug and may you finish enjoying these remaining days in Chile!”
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