The University of Chile Student Federation (Fech) has elected a new leadership board following elections held this Monday and Tuesday. The “Conectemos la Chile” list emerged as the winner, restoring formal governance to the student organization after a two-year vacancy.
Election Results and Voter Turnout
The “Conectemos la Chile” list, composed of students linked to the Frente Amplio and the Juventudes Comunistas, won with 60.6% of the vote. Results were finalized following the closing of the polls at 8:00 p.m.
According to the Fech Electoral Qualifying Tribunal (Tricel), 18,343 students participated in the process out of a total registry of 37,577. The runner-up, the “Nuevo Horizonte” list, obtained a preliminary 39.4% of the preferences.
New Leadership and Strategic Pillars
The winning list will assume all seven positions on the board: presidency, vice-presidency, general secretary, and the secretariats of Participation, Welfare, Communications, and Finance.
The new administration has identified several core priorities. These include student welfare, the public role of the university, student participation, and the defense of free, public education.
A Vision for Student Representation
Laura Mlynarz, a fourth-year Hydraulic Civil Engineering student and member of the Juventudes Comunistas, was elected president. She emphasized that the federation should not be a “replicator of empty slogans.”
Mlynarz stated that the Fech “must be a space for discussion, for diagnosis,” and that this approach should allow the organization to serve as a “valid interlocutor” for students, student organizations, university authorities, and the national arena.
Potential Next Steps
With the board now established, the new leadership may begin implementing their proposed focus on student welfare and public education. They could also seek to solidify the “valid interlocutor” role described by Mlynarz to bridge gaps between the student body and university administration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which list won the Fech elections?
The “Conectemos la Chile” list won the elections with 60.6% of the votes.
Who is the new president of the Fech?
The president-elect is Laura Mlynarz, a fourth-year Hydraulic Civil Engineering student and member of the Juventudes Comunistas.
Why was the Fech without a board for two years?
The organization lacked formal representation because the 2024 election process was invalidated due to a lack of the necessary quorum.
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