Speech by Michelle Bachelet to accept the presidential nomination in El Bosque, March 27, 2013

Thank you dear Mayor. I always say that coming to El Bosque
It is go home and not in a symbolic way. I am the daughter
El Bosque, my house is still in Los Morros, where it is the
municipal health department.

Dear friends, dear friends,

What a great joy to be back at home with you! Than
joy to return to my country after nearly three years!

And it's a tremendous joy because they have been years of work,
satisfactions of learning. I have seen, in this task that I had
play, new realities. From the outside you see the challenges,
problems, which is pending in the country, but also
the good that we have managed to build between us all. I have
traveled many countries at this time, promoting the rights
human women and girls in all parts of the world.

I have met and worked with governments and organizations
Leaders of Asia, Africa, Oceania, Europe and Latin America.

I've come a troubled, awkward and uncomfortable world
a globalization that has not been beneficial to all and has
deepened inequality gaps.

But I have also witnessed the courage, perseverance and
hope of profound change, especially among women
the Arab world.

For me this has been an experience of life, work
enriching a permanent discovery and learning
which, I am sure, will serve the men and women of my country.

But believe me, and tell them how valuable has been the
experience of these years, there is nothing that compares to the
happy to be home. Because there is nothing that compares to the
It said to be in my country with my family, with you, my people.

There is a great Uruguayan writer Mario Benedetti said in his
book "The notion of patria", "always becomes".

For all these years I have felt the support, trust and
love of a great majority of Chileans. I have the
need to say to those people, and wholeheartedly thank you.

Thank you very much for this support, because you are part
critical of what has brought me back.

As you know, I took time to reflect on this
decision.

I have talked with my family, I have always received
unconditional companionship and support, and I thank sincerely
commitment, patience and sacrifice often involves
for them my dedication to public service.

Friends, friends,

I told them we talked in March and here I am in front of you,
fulfilling my word.

Here I am with you, ready to take on this challenge,
It is personal, but above all is collective.

With joy, with determination and humility, I have taken
the decision to be a candidate.

No kids yet, we have to work sick for that
pass.

(Sing National Anthem)

I am determined to convene a new political and social majority to
get together for the Presidency of the Republic.

For we have a Chile progresses in each of
us, a country with more justice, more drive, more participation and
greater solidarity.

The mission is beautiful and inspiring, but let's be honest:
It will be easy.

We know, for certain, that since the return of democracy
Chile has made progress and growth. I do not mean just me, but
Also leaders from around the world.

We were able to build a stable democracy, with
shortcomings that demand our attention, but stable - with
economic growth and social improvements. So I can say
that if we do things right, I am optimistic about the future of Chile.
Therefore we can aspire to a better life for ourselves and
our children and grandchildren.

However, it is fair to say that there were things we did not do the
all well and reforms were undone.

We also know that the benefits have not reached all of
Similarly. Let us be clear: the undoubted progress
in the fight against poverty they have not been necessarily translated
in significant changes in the levels of inequality in our
country.

We know that, despite the positive economic indicators, there
many people who are not happy. And there are many people that are
struggling.

We know that there is quite a cross civil unrest.

We have seen in students, in their mobilization for
free and quality education. We have also seen a class
average that feels excluded and unprotected.

We have seen in the regions, which have raised their voice
force against centralism and the negative impact it has on their
daily life.

Chile has changed and is today, a country more active and more
awareness of their rights. It is a country whose people are
tired of the abuse of power and that their needs are not
You are taken into account.

Chile now has a more mature and empowered citizenship.
We are entering a new political, economic and social cycle.

And how good it so!

For the same citizenship is stronger, audit,
informed, committed to the development of Chile and is a sign
adulthood as our own society. But it is also a
citizens who are unhappy raising his voice.

Although many causes can be identified, because they always
all social processes have many causes, let me
tell them my deep conviction that the enormous inequality
Chile is the main reason for the anger.

An anger that is also manifested as distrust of
institutions.

This anger is a righteous anger. Chile has many good things
yet it is one of the countries with greater inequality
world. And this social divide is ethically and politically unacceptable.

And what do we mean when we say inequality?

We talked about the wage gap, of course, but also the
Abuse of companies that cheat their customers.

We talked about the fine print that affects millions of consumers
indebted.

Of unilateral change health plans.

Regions, postponed by centralism.

We talked about the persistent wage gap between
men and women doing the same job.

Impotence of workers who can not bargain
collectively, on an equal footing with their companies. From
sexual and reproductive rights of men and women
our homeland.

Inequality is also expressed with full force in the gap
educational, remaining opportunities for students
municipal education.

It is also expressed in the day to day of a middle class increasingly
most affected by higher payments to education, housing and health, but
do not qualify for social support programs.

The living conditions and rights of our peoples
originating remain a pending task as a country, and
another critical dimension of this structural failure as a society
It affects us all.

To all those people who daily face these
inequalities, I say: it is time. It is urgent, it is important
We must overcome inequality in our country.

We must resolutely combat inequality. That must be, to
every level, our priority.

Chile is located in a historic moment: Chile must decide
what conditions reached as a society development.

Economic growth is essential to achieve our
goals. We must grow at a good pace and steadily.

It is true that growth produces jobs, improved
income and dynamism in the economy.

But it is also true that there is real growth if not
inclusive, if the country's wealth does not reach all the inhabitants.

We must rethink the foundations of our model of development.

We must move from a model based almost exclusively on the
export commodity, one that is also underpinned by
knowledge, entrepreneurship, on the initiative and creativity.

It is therefore key to create more opportunities. Do not miss
these merits that could not develop.

It is an ethical duty, but also as an investment country not
we can postpone.

We can only be a developed country if
substantially the way we do things.

I have always said but I want to reiterate: the real development
if there is not inclusive and sustainable.

And to advance in this task we propose to me
it seems essential that citizens are
engaged in a collective national project. His voice
heard loud and clear.

We are at the right time to take care of this
homework.

Defeating inequality to achieve development is a task
huge and, of course, you know I always tell them what
I think, it is a task that far surpasses the horizon of a
presidential administration.

It is necessary, then, that we start now.

For a long time we are dedicated to make adjustments and changes to
model.

Some have been good. But other insufficient. We have to
carry out deeper reforms if we really want
defeat inequality in our country.

We must be able to build a new consensus
move forward with a sense of country, national unity and a heading
common. Without exclusions.

You know it is very important what you do, but also
how you do things. I firmly believe in that. I believe that
you have good ideas and projects.

I want to commit now to you:

I will not offer a program made within four walls.

I will promote dialogues and meetings for the program
this campaign has the hallmark of our citizens.

We will be a true pact of government with a
mutual commitment.

And for that, I will tour the country: to listen, to learn
their proposals.

Friends,

I will work to lead the next government: the first government
of a new political and social majority that allows us to face the
inequality and build a more inclusive Chile.

We have a unique opportunity to move forward together in the direction
correct.

Therefore, this campaign, the conquest of the Government and the
implementation of reforms should be broad and
democratic.

In that sense, I think it's very important that you make
primary for the nomination of single opposition candidate.

The primaries are a legitimate and valid way to be the
citizenship which indicate their preference.

That's why I decided to participate in the primary
Coalition and opposition. Because the road to currency not
It will be the task of a candidate, a team, or a coalition of
games.

This campaign is going to belong to all of you.

To win you have to work. And if we win it because there was a
great mobilization of citizenship throughout the country.

And that citizen mobilization begins today. Right now.

It is necessary to move ahead and participate primaries
June 30 and then face the presidential election.

And these same men and women who so selflessly
I have expressed your support, your love, your trust, I ask you to
help us in every city and corner of Chile.

I invite you and I call upon all to work together for a
primary that is fraternal, massive, open and citizen. To make
a campaign with joy, initiative, respect and enthusiasm.

I invite you to work to earn the Government in November
next. Each of you, each of you, with your
longings and realities, with their own experience and look Chile,
his voice is what this country needs new dream.

It is what we need for a new majority for a new
politics, for a better country.

Heartfelt thanks for your love and your confidence, for this
energy transmitted me. Thanks for being here tonight.

Let's start now.

Viva Chile!

Michelle Bachelet
