Right-Wing Candidates Eliminated from FEUC Race: Leftist Lists NAU and Amanecer Advance to Runoff

Original article: La derecha queda fuera de la carrera por la FEUC: dos listas de izquierda avanzan a segunda vuelta

The right-wing candidates have been eliminated from the competition for the Federation of Students of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (FEUC), while two leftist lists, Nueva Acción Universitaria (NAU) and Amanecer, move forward to the second round.

Both lists surpassed the other three candidates: Movimiento Gremial, Solidaridad UC, and Avanzar, and will participate in the runoff scheduled for October 21 and 22.

The results were announced at 7:00 AM this Thursday, following voting sessions that took place on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The first round saw a participation rate of 52.2%, exceeding the minimum required quorum. A total of 15,916 students voted on October 6 and 7, according to data from the Electoral Qualification Tribunal (Tricel), as reported by the university.

According to the counts, NAU received the highest majority with 33.4% of the votes. They were followed by Amanecer, which garnered 24.8%. The results for other candidates were: Solidaridad UC with 16.8%; Movimiento Gremial with 13.6%; and Avanzar with 8%.

Following these outcomes, the scenario will repeat from previous elections, where for the first time two leftist lists clashed in the runoff of the student federation.

This time, Nueva Acción Universitaria, a group associated with the Socialist Party and in which former minister Giorgio Jackson was a member, will attempt to maintain control of the FEUC. The presidential candidate is Florencia Yáñez, a third-year Law student who served as the executive secretary of her department’s student center in 2024 and has participated in feminist movements.

On the other hand, Amanecer, a coalition formed by the Broad Front and the Communist Youth, aims to wrest control from NAU. Their presidential candidate is Maksim Baeza, a member of the Communist Youth and a fifth-year Design student. Currently, he serves as a territorial advisor and led the executive council of the federation in the first half of the year. Amanecer’s list also includes other communist militants and members from the Broad Front.

Superior Council and Territorial Councilors

In this election, students also voted for representatives for the Superior Council and 42 territorial councilors, who are responsible for representing the students of various faculties and units of PUC.

From the NAU list, Constanza Inostroza, a fourth-year Journalism student, advanced to the runoff as a candidate for the Superior Council, while Maya Chamorro, a second-year Nursing student, will serve as deputy superior councilor.

Amanecer also successfully sent Melisa Flores, a fourth-year Social Work student, to the runoff, with Maximiliano Mendoza, a second-year student in Aesthetic Studies, as deputy superior councilor.

Featured photo credit: César Dellepiane