In memoriam: SEBASTIÁN PIÑERA IN GALICIA​

Sebastián Piñera, former President of Chile, participated for the first time in the Forum La Toja last September 2023, between the 28th and 30th, in what he said was his first visit to the island. His human warmth immediately won the sympathy of the attendees. His knowledge and experience, as a successful politician and businessman, were evident at the table in which he participated alongside Mariano Rajoy, moderated by Trinidad Jiménez, in what is called “Dialogue of Presidents”. The Ibero-American leader took over from Felipe González, present in the three previous editions, who was absent due to the investiture of Sánchez, held on the same day.

In the dialogue, entitled “Governance in Modern Societies”, the former Chilean president contributed extremely realistic and enriching notes, and, with his peculiar style, did not hesitate to warn about global warming. “This has been the warmest year in the last 120,000 years and next year it will be even warmer”, to denounce that “globalization is not doing anything to face this climate catastrophe”. These days, unfortunately, Chileans, especially in the beautiful and sister city of Valparaíso, are witnessing this first hand.

Piñera also referred in Galicia to the great problems of Latin America, drug trafficking and organized crime, which have stopped using the corridors to Europe to relocate in Latin American countries, even reaching the organs of government, “as has happened in Venezuela”.

The fifth edition of the Forum La Toja-Vínculo Atlántico, captained with resounding success by Amancio López Seijas with the help of his family, his wife Ana, and his daughters Marina and Clara, and by Carmen Martínez Castro, brought together more than 40 high-level speakers and more than 100 prominent representatives of companies, institutions and entities related to the economic, political and academic world, proving to be an essential space for dialogue between both sides of the Atlantic. Since its first edition, it has managed to establish itself as a benchmark for public conversation, an invitation to analyze the challenges we share, the problems we must face and the possibility of doing so together.

In one of the breaks I had the opportunity to talk, in a relaxed manner, with an accessible Sebastián Piñera. He seemed a bit tired physically, which is not strange given his multiple activities, his busy schedule and the long trip from the southern country, but he was happy for the welcome, the climate, the gastronomy, the Grand Hotel and the incomparable scenery. We commented on the work of the Asociación de Editores Europa América Latina y Caribe (EditoRed), which was born after twelve years of itinerant congresses, which began in Santiago de Chile. He encouraged us to continue with the essential work of supporting the media, Ibero-American journalists and, with them, citizens and democracies, and he put himself at our disposal. I quoted him the most beautiful book “Chile a la Vista”, by the Galician Eduardo Blanco Amor and, unfailingly, we compared it with Pablo Neruda’s “Confieso que he vivido”. We talked about tourism as an opportunity for the economies of Central and South America.

At the V Forum, in which Piñera attended almost all the tables and talks, where he coincided, among others, with the King of Spain Felipe VI, we talked about Lula’s return to the presidency of Brazil and how his active international presence had given Ibero-America an even more important role in the new map of world geography. He expressed to me his conviction that “the West, after a prolonged absence from Ibero-America and Africa, of allowing a free field for its main rival, China, to establish new and stronger alliances in both areas of the world, to once again consider Ibero-America with greater willingness to understand the transformations that are taking place in the area”.

Privately, he also cited his passion for helicopters. Such is life.

Many aspects were interwoven in the Forum and homage was paid to its recently deceased President Josep Piqué, to whom the former Chilean President dedicated some affectionate words.

Next year, in the clear skies of Arousa, we will have to look up to the stars again, where there will be a dialogue that will also be part of the Forum and of our moral references.

A verse by Pablo Neruda: “To leave is to return when the rain, only the rain, is waiting”. Piqué and Piñera will always have in this place where the world has come to be called Galicia their window open to the fresh freedom of the most liberal and emotional memory.

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