Congressman Álvaro Ortiz became the next president of the Christian Democratic Party (DC) this Sunday after securing a resounding victory in the party's internal elections. Ortiz will lead the party for the 2026–2028 term, further cementing his political standing following his tenure as mayor of Concepción. By capturing 64.4% of the vote, the congressman avoided the need for a runoff, as reported by BioBioChile.
Óscar Ramírez, the party’s interim leader, reported that with 63% of the ballots counted, List 2, headed by Ortiz, secured 3,785 votes, equivalent to 64.41% of the total. On the other side, List 4, led by Congressman Jorge Díaz, obtained 31.48% with 1,850 votes. Lists 1 and 3 trailed significantly, with marginal results of 1.89% and 2.21%, respectively.
A Turn Toward Continuity and Unity
Ortiz’s victory is being interpreted internally as a sign of continuity for the current party leadership. His list represents the faction of the party that maintains closer ties to the center-left. Following his confirmation, the new president called for party unity, warning of the current complex political landscape, which has seen several political groups disappear after failing to meet minimum parliamentary thresholds. "No one is expendable here," Ortiz stressed in an interview with La Radio, emphasizing that "what comes next is more complex—governing—and you cannot improvise."
When asked about the party's stance, Ortiz was emphatic that the DC "is not part of the government." While he clarified that they do not support the current administration, he maintained that they would keep a spirit of dialogue: "We will support ideas, projects, and initiatives that benefit the majority of Chileans, and we will speak up about what we do not agree with," he concluded, according to BioBioChile.
"These results are preliminary, as it is the Supreme Tribunal that is responsible for delivering the official results," Ramírez clarified. According to the data provided, voter turnout for the process reached 25% of the electoral roll, with 5,876 votes counted at the time of the report.
The new executive board that will accompany Congressman Ortiz will maintain the current structure in key positions. Alejandra Krauss will continue in her role as national secretary, while Myriam Verdugo will take over as the party's first vice president. The Supreme Tribunal must now certify the final count to officially ratify the new leadership of the Chilean Christian Democrats.
