Evelyn Matthei speech in his proclamation as a presidential candidate, August 12, 2013

Dear friends, dear friends, I have the honor to address the General Council of the Independent Democratic Union, as its presidential standard bearer.

I accept, with humility, responsibility, strength, conviction and joy this nomination, and declare from now, that this presidential election is open. No one has won. With your strength, each militant, National Director, councilor, mayor, congressman and senator, win the November 17th.

Thank Patricio Melero, President of the UDI, in Directive Jovino Novoa and Juan Antonio Coloma, members of the Political Committee of the Campaign, Hernán Larraín, Chairman of the Political Reform Commission, Human Rights, Decentralization and Modernization of the State and all members of the UDI for the opportunity given me to be here with you.

During the past 30 years, we have promised to Chileans that with effort, sacrifice, work and seriousness, we can beat poverty and transform into a developed country.

If we look back today, we can be proud. No country in Latin America has progressed as far as Chile has reduced unemployment, increased wages, it decreased poverty, we are close to eliminating extreme poverty, and headed to become a developed country.

How to understand, then, that despite the enormous progress our society is crossed by the civil unrest?

I am convinced that the unrest and citizens' demands are the clearest, most fascinating demonstration of the progress we have made with effort, sacrifice and seriousness.

30 years ago we worried about how to get potable water, sewage, electricity and telephone services throughout Chile. Attempts to provide housing solutions for health booths began. We struggled to give all children access to a school and a clinic. We lived the drama of unemployment. There was much poverty.

With economic progress, it has emerged a new middle class. A middle class aware of their rights, environmentally conscious, concerned about the education of their children, requiring better health and will not tolerate crime. A middle class that is unworthy abuses, requiring greater opportunities. A middle class with fear for its stability and its future. A middle class burdened by excessive debt. A middle class that demands to be heard.

If we want to build and live in a healthy country, we must listen and act.

Faced with this demand of the citizens, I can not fail to warn of a danger: some believe that economic development, growth, low unemployment, are installed in Chile and are not going to lose. Caution: The Spaniards and Greeks were probably thinking the same thing five years ago.

In our government, the axis is given by a struggle for a fairer Chile. But this must be accompanied by economic growth and job creation. Without economic growth will only promises unfulfilled promises. Without economic growth, there are no good jobs, wages and pensions stagnate and social policies lose their force.

Here is the first major difference with the policies of my contender. She promised to eliminate FUT country in one of the ads more improvised and botched tax reform that I have witnessed in the last 22 years. I know it's a complex issue. But with full responsibility I tell Chileans that measure liquid to Small and Medium Enterprises, and bury job creation. Pay attention and see if you agree with the creation of jobs. If you ever even committed to the maintenance of the jobs created by this government of President Sebastian Pinera.

We need more money to ensure the right of people to participate with equal opportunities in national life. But not at the expense of unemployment.

I have spoken of a great struggle for a Fairer Chile. I'm sure that resonates in all of you the slogan of Pablo Longueira in his grueling primary battle.

He should be here .... Life has ways that only God knows.

It is here that Juan Pablo Longueira, the eldest son of Paul, who moved us all three weeks ago. Come, Juan Pablo, you want to give a hug ...

I want this hug transmit it to your father, your mother, and your brothers.

Tell Pablo, your mother and your whole family that we admire and appreciate the strength, passion and courage that has been made available to the IDU for so many years.

We admire the immense vocation for Chile, for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged.

From here we send all the strength and love.

That when he recovers, we will need more than ever here with us.

Paul never believed that the primary was lost and fought with total commitment and conviction. I want to tell you that the presidential election no one has won.

Missing more than 3 months.

Pablo Longueira, you all know I'm going to remove the dirt, I'll leave everything on the court, in the same way that he did. And like him, even though we are David against Goliath, we will win !!

It's a tough fight. The front and taken for winners. What surprises me most is that they are indicating that they represent change.

The change, with Osvaldo Andrade. With Ghirardi ... We look at the equipment. There seems to be several who want to repeat the course.

No longer they want to be called Coalition. But all we see are basically the same as always.

Let me tell you why I got into politics and why they want us to be government.

My German ancestors arrived in Osorno, worked hard and did well. However, my grandfather lost everything. That taught my whole family, no matter how many you have, what matters is who you are.

My father could not go to college, there was no way to pay it. He entered the Air Force, institution served to the best of itself.

My early years were spent in Iquique and Antofagasta. When we came to Santiago, my mom got us accept scholarships at the German School. I was always aware that he was a scholarship. This taught me to work hard and to thank.

We lived in the Whereabouts 34 Grand Avenue, and crossed all Santiago to go to school. Those years marked me deeply: children saw bare foot in winter, with a thin chalequito in the cold. I saw what mushrooms were called: remains of houses made of brass, wood, plastics, alambrito houses connected with the power line. He was only 6-7 years, but I still remember how I pressed the heart.

As deputy and senator I saw people living in inhumane conditions. I have seen women heads of households removed dirt to get their children. I have been with couples who have lost a child by crime. I've seen sick people waiting 2 to 3 years for an hour with a specialist. I remember a woman crying on my shoulder unemployment partner and his son.

As labor minister, I saw companies that treated them with respect and dignity to their workers, who conversed with their unions. But I also saw poor working conditions, unfair wages, unacceptable bathrooms.

I believe very strongly that it should be more integrated cities. More integrated schools. Nurseries that are the same for children of managers, administrative sons, the sons of the courageous lady who makes the toilet. Children are all equal. They deserve the same treatment, the same care, the same quality of education.

Social justice is not a slogan. And it's something that I will never give in. Because this inequality that moved me at age 7, is the reason why I entered politics and why I accepted the nomination for presidential candidate of the Republic.

I know the UDI shares this determination. Remember the words of Jaime Guzman, "... the overall common good, ultimate and supreme end of the State, be understood as a set of social conditions which permit each and every one of the human beings that comprise achieve your personal goal, or , perfection, to the greatest extent possible. "

In which we will focus our attention if we win the presidency:

Education. Health. In Crime. In the development of the Regions.

In education, we continue to advance gratuity, both secondary and higher education. But we will say no to free the children of the wealthiest families in the University.

I believe in justice, which means helping those in need. We have here a tremendous difference with our contender: Justice is not the same as equality, which means giving all the same, they need it or not.

We will make a revolution in the Professional Technical High Schools, adopting the German dual system, which has allowed the country to have very low rates of unemployment among young people, even in the midst of a crisis.

We teach the specialties that industries need.

We will use the same tools and the same technology used in modern business.

We will have the best teachers trained in these technologies.

We introduce mandatory and regulated practices, enabling them to experience the world of work.

Qualifications obtained allow them to validate branches in Professional Institutes Technical Training Centers.

We want young people who graduate from these schools, eligible for decent work, well paid. But also to continue being trained to achieve top-level titles.

The quality and access to nurseries and pre-school education will be particularly important, because we know that in Chile and at 5 years of age have occurred differences in the cognitive area, in attitudes and neural connections that are almost insurmountable in life future of these children. Equity is built primarily on the First Children.

I put a lot of emphasis on education and training of workers and the unemployed. It hurts when you talk about education, the workers never mentioned.

Health, our emphasis will be on training medical specialists and achieving an equitable presence of those specialists throughout our country.

Advance to allow all users Fonasa, Free Choice.

Completely review the operation of clinics and Family Health Centers in the country, because we have heard the complaints of its users.

We'll play for the best prices and lower access to medicines.

On Crime, the emphasis will be on three areas:

- We will create a national system for early detection of dropouts. We're going to look for these young people to offer Education Schools Rehabilitation. We will offer training. The accompany. There are 86,000 young people out of education are young people who are at risk.

- Persons deprived of their liberty shall be trained so that when they regain freedom have the opportunity to earn an honest living. If we do not, they will return to crime.

- But as we will put great emphasis on prevention and rehabilitation, I note that also seek to give more tools to the police and the prosecutor to investigate and prosecute those who commit crimes. And we will give greater legal protection to our police, who risk their lives to protect citizens.

Developing Regions review the structure of expenditure and revenues of regional governments, and regional investment will raise decision to achieve greater equity in the development of our territory.

We will review incentives for businesses to locate in more regions and to hire people from the same region.

We continue to advance the need for development, both human and productive infrastructure.

That is, in the Territorial Equity advance.

We seek the necessary funding for these initiatives, worrying not affect growth, investment and job creation.

In all the above areas I'll settle Standing Committees of Experts, representing different views and sensitivities, to go installing state policies, long-term policies. These committees evaluate the results of the various programs, suggest changes or additions, and keep the public informed.

I am convinced that a prerequisite for progress as a country is to discuss, agree and prioritize tasks ahead. Anxieties and complaints of our citizens should be the subject of ongoing work and study at the state level. Only then, with effort, sacrifice, work and seriousness, we will advance in this second phase of our development as a nation.

We are forming the teams that develop the Government Program. I appreciate the willingness of many people to join this effort. Many of them have never participated in politics, but deeply know the reality and know what kind of changes should be made.

Technicians, to You, dear Directors, dear authorities, the whole country, Teams I tell them not to expect me and this nomination words of good breeding or irresponsible promises. Do not expect comfortable superficial gestures or ambiguities. My commitment is to tell them what I think, work tirelessly and above all never to forget each of Chileans who seek to serve.

I want to say that in times like I'm living the most wonderful gestures of affection, support and help are. To all the loved ones who have been accompanying me these days, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I want to thank with excitement to our President, Don Sebastian Pinera. I entrusted the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour. Thanks President, a wonderful experience delve deep into the world of work and it was an honor to serve under your command.

But there is one person in particular that touched me with their generosity. I ask for a standing ovation for the campaign manager Pablo Longueira, now the head of this campaign, my dear friend Joaquin Lavin.

He did not hesitate a minute to leave the Ministry of Social Development to accompany and help Paul. And I've been fortunate to have his experience, wisdom and huge human quality. Joaquin THANK YOU !!!

As Paul and Joaquin gave the surprise in the primaries, when nobody believed it was possible, I tell you now, that we will surprise in this presidential. The president is open. The president is winnable. We work from sunrise to sunset, and all over the country to win !!!!
