Episode 69: We Sit Down With Former Santiago Mayor Pablo Zalaquett

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Paige:  You are listening to “Coffee with Gringos.” I’m Paige Sutherland. And today, we have quite a special guest: former mayor of Santiago, Pablo Zalaquett. Thank you for joining us.

Pablo: Thank you, it’s a pleasure to talk with you.

Paige: So, Pablo just to start off, tell us a little bit about how you got into politics.

Pablo:  I start at seventeen years old working with poor people in social things in a lot of foundations. And for me was very important in my life to help the people who have more problems than me, because it was a way for me to be happy after happen a lot of things in my life. First, the company of my father broke, and one year after my mother died, and I have to stay living alone in Chile. My father and my two sisters went to live in Bolivia. So, I entered to a religious movement. My way of get connected with God was working with poor people. In all that period, I met a lot of people. That was the period of Pinochet, and all the people was the leaders of the right politic sector in Chile. People like Carlos Cáceres, Joaquín Lavín, Pablo Longueira —a lot of people. After Pinochet, in the first election in between…. from the left sector and…from the right sector, he asked me to be the president of the young movement. That was my first experience, political experience, and then I started like some way to be a leader in politician. After that campaign, I decided to go to Spain to study political science. I am a commercial engineer from the Catholic University in Chile. So, that was a big change in my life. And after that, for the election for mayor. That year, Joaquin Lavin, will be the next candidate for president for two more years, and Pablo Anguera, was at that time the most important politician from the right sector, asked me run to be mayor for La Florida—at this moment, the biggest neighborhood in Chile. I say yes because I never thought to win. So, I say ok to have a combination in between my company, and work in the municipality. And then, after four years, take a decision, if I want to stay full time in politics or come back to my company, or the things that I want. I start there, and I was two years mayor in La Florida, then I run for mayor of Santiago and then I won. And then after that, I went for another period in Santiago and I lose.

Paige: You’re a commercial engineer—that's what you have your degree in. Like, would you ever think that you would be mayor of Santiago when you were a child?

Pablo: No, I never thought that I would be a politician, the mayor of Santiago. I always thought that in my life, some way was decided. My grandfather, again with a company, and he had only one son, my father. And I was also was the only son, so it was like an inherit. Yes, yes, we say like “cadenas.” Most of us are entrepreneurs and, in some way, if your father and your grandfather, you have to take care about your business. So, I'm sure that if the company of my father doesn’t broke and my mother doesn’t die, I would never have never been politician.

Paige:  Given that, you know, didn't pursue a life of politics, when you were at a young age was kind of a turning point because of life events. What was most surprising to you when you became a mayor, that you didn't expect?  

Pablo: Before mayor, I work with a lot of poor people. So, I knew that Chile is one of the countries that have the biggest difference in between rich people and poor people—and we are talking about incomes. And there were more people living in very bad conditions. But, in some way, I knew it. For me, the thing that I never expected was not the material condition of the people, was how they feel, the environment that they live, how are the neighborhoods, the interacts, the environment of a violence inside the house. What happens there also between the father and the daughter. Then I understood that to change our country and to get more opportunities that people have to start making a lot of changes in where they live, how they live—that education was the key. But not only the education at school. Also, with the family. So, not only was a matter of even their more incomes, or a work, because sometimes I created a lot of jobs, but they weren't able to work. Just because they were not prepared, or because they start to work and after a week, they start with drugs, with alcohol. So, they left the work. So, it was more deep, our problem, that I thought before.

Paige: That makes sense. Obviously, income is a huge barrier but, you know, the quality of life they had something that needed to improve. During your term and office, it seems like you met quite a lot of famous people from within the country, outside of the country, around the world. What are some of your favorite memories of, you know, meeting some of these world leaders?

Pablo: Meeting with a lot of presidents. Alan Garcia, really was so interesting. I'm not care about his personal life, but he was really an interesting politician. There is another woman, that I know have a lot of problems, that are real interesting personality that is Cristina Kirchner. Also, I stay with her talking more than two hours. President of Palestine, also, because we can talk about all the problem, and for me it's very important, with the Middle East, of course. After that he invited me and I went to Palestine. I was with Obama, but only three minutes. So, I can say it was so interesting. It was nice to be with him, but I am talking experience with Cristina Kirchner, or Alan Garcia or President Domingo because I was talking more than half an hour, one hour, two hours. Also, with also with President Santos of Colombia.  I prefer the experience with the presidents of South America, because he have more things in common. Of course, I received a team from Arabia Saudita (Saudi Arabia) and all, but we talk like fifteen minutes. We have list of things in common because with the others we talk about education, security, health are the things that we have the same problems.

Paige: So, it seems like you've met quite a lot of interesting people and had fascinating conversations—definitely perks of being a politician. During your time, whether you were mayor of La Florida or Santiago, was there any embarrassing moment that you remember during your term that stands out to you?

Pablo:  A lot of embarrassing moments—different embarrassing moments. The one that was when it starts the movement of the students and the city took the first school and so we say “….” but I don’t know the word in English. I went to the school to talk with them. Nobody at that time knew what really was happening. We thought that was something not so deep. So, I decided to go to talk with them, like near the door of the school. The policeman and all the people told me not to go, but I say yes. And all the press, all the media was there. I started to talk with the president of the students and while we were talking, another student come from my back and did some things and gave me some saliva.

Paige: He spit on you?

Pablo: He spit on me. Yes, but he but he spit on me with me with all the media and also the media took the pictures, and it was so embarrassing.

Paige: What did you do?

Pablo: Nothing. I have to stay talking, I couldn't do anything because he wanted that I say to the policeman to do something, and that was wrong, and worst. And the and the other thing, of course, is that there is a very important, maybe the best humorist in Chile, always make fun of me. Sometimes it's very embarrassing.

Paige: What do you think of his impression?

Pablo: Of his impression?

Paige: Yeah, do you think his impression is accurate, is wrong? Is it funny or no?

Pablo:  No, I think, yeah, for the others it’s very funny.  

Paige: But for you, not so much?

Pablo: I know him now. Now we are, we have a very good relation. Our relation have been ups and downs. It was very hard for me when he made his first film and I was like the first actor.

Paige:  Your relationship have had some ups and downs. When you've met him, what is your interaction? Is it very friendly?

Pablo: Yes, but we have talked and have also, we went one time to have dinner. I had the opportunity to explain what I felt. I think that after some time, he understood. But he really thought that he can do whatever he wants and nobody have the chance of say anything because we are public people. So, if we are public people, that is the cost of the public people.

 Paige: Yeah, but obviously, you still feelings so that makes sense. We have a very popular show in the US, called “Saturday Night Live.” And it's basically what Kramer does, but a cast of people. And every politician is always imitated and made fun of. You don't feel as bad because they attack everyone—on the left side on the right side…anyone that's in the public eye. You should watch it. It’s pretty funny. Yeah, so obviously you've had, you know, quite an experience as a politician but people are probably wondering what are you up to now—what's your future plans. Do you plan to go back into politics? What's your future look like?

Pablo: Really, I don't know if I will go back in some time. The only thing that I know, really, is that in the next years, I will help some friends for their reelection, or for their election, for example. I will work some way with Lavín, to help him to be the next president of Chile. Also, I will work with some candidates for mayor from my party, from UDI. I have to talk with the president of the party—two or three that I am going to help. Also, I think that I am going to support Philippe Alexandre, the mayor of Santiago that is my friend. So, we want to support four or five people in the next two years. So, I always stay in the political environment sector. Maybe some time I go back, but I don't think I will go back soon. I am happy at my company. I think I need more time to be here. Politics is my passion. So, I will always stay inside in some way.

Paige: I appreciate you spending time with us to chat. I know that you have quite the busy schedule, always involved in a lot of different things.

Pablo: It’s a pleasure.

Paige: So, as you all know if you get lost go online and check out that transcript and vocabulary guide. Thanks again for listening.

Key Vocabulary, Phrases and Slang:

1.     to inherit (verb): to receive something, usually from the death of a family member.

a.     She will inherit her parent’s house whenever they die.

2.     turning point (noun): a time when an important decision or change happens

a.     Losing my job last year was the turning point for me to return to university.

3.     income (noun): money earned from work.

a.     There is a big difference in income equality throughout people in the world.

4.     barrier (noun): something that prevents the movement or progression of something.

a.     Being shy is her biggest barrier for meeting new people.

5.     fascinating (adjective): very interesting.

a.     The history of the Mongos is so fascinating to me!

6.     perk (noun): an advantage or benefit, usually related to work or one’s position.

a.     Getting free concert tickets is a perk for working in the music industry.

7.     to stand out (phrasal verb): to be more noticeable compared to other things.

a.     Her talent for football stands out from the other girls.

8.     to spit (verb): to exit saliva from one’s mouth.

a.     She had to spit because she had a bad taste in her mouth.

9.     accurate (adjective): correct, exact.

a.     Are these sales numbers accurate?

10.  humorist (noun): someone who performs comedy, comedian.

a.     Chris Rock is one of the funniest humorists I have ever heard.

11.  to imitate (verb): to copy someone else, make an impression of someone.

a.     Saturday Night Live is really good at imitating famous people.

12.  public eye (noun): the attention of the public.

a.     Celebrities often try to avoid the public eye so they can have some privacy.