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Jeannette Jara
Chilean politician and lawyer (born 1974) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Jeannette Alejandra Jara Román (born 23 April 1974) is a Chilean lawyer, public administrator, and politician affiliated with the Communist Party of Chile. She served as Minister of Labor and Social Welfare from 2022 to 2025 under President Gabriel Boric.[1] In June 2025, she won the presidential primary of the government coalition Unity for Chile (Unidad por Chile), becoming its candidate for the 2025 general election.[2]
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Early life and education
Jara was born in the commune of Conchalí, in northern Santiago, Chile. She grew up in the El Cortijo neighborhood, living in a mediagua (makeshift home) without access to running water, raised primarily by her grandmother.[3][4] Her father, Sergio Elías Jara Ulloa, was an industrial mechanic, and her mother, Jeanette del Carmen Román Guzmán, was a homemaker. She is the eldest of five siblings, including investigative journalist Sergio Jara.[5]
She completed her secondary education at the Liceo Isaura Dinator de Guzmán in Santiago.[6] In her youth, she worked in temporary jobs, including as a promotora,a seasonal farm worker, and street food vendor.[4]
Jara began studying law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, but transferred to the University of Santiago, Chile (Usach), where she earned a degree in public administration. She later obtained a law degree from the Central University of Chile.[7][8] She also holds a master's degree in public management and policy from Usach.[9]
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Political and student activism
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Jara became politically active at the age of 14, joining the Communist Youth of Chile (Juventudes Comunistas de Chile, JJCC).[10][11] During the 1990s, she was part of a generation of student leaders who sought to reestablish student representation in Chilean universities after the dictatorship.[4] In 1997, she was elected president of the Student Federation of the University of Santiago, Chile (Feusach), leading a list supported by the Communist Party and defeating a slate linked to the Socialist Party.[12][4]
In 1997, Jara was arrested along with other student leaders during clashes with police at Usach. She was accused of assaulting a police officer, a charge she denied, and was placed under military jurisdiction. She spent several days in the Women's Prison in Santiago before being released. The episode drew public attention and strong criticism from the Communist Party toward the government of President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle.[4]
Later that year, Jara helped coordinate a large-scale event commemorating the 30th anniversary of the death of Ernesto "Che" Guevara, held at Estadio Nacional and attended by over 60,000 people. The event featured artists such as Silvio Rodríguez, Sol y Lluvia, and Ismael Serrano.[4]
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Political and professional career
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Career in public service and union activity
After graduating from university, Jara began working at Chile's Internal Revenue Service (Servicio de Impuestos Internos, SII), where she became involved in union activities.[13] She was elected to the regional board of the tax workers' association (AFIICH) in 2003 and gained recognition for her organizing work throughout the country.[14][4] At the SII, she also served in a unit tasked with monitoring nonprofit organizations within the Directorate of Large Taxpayers.[4]
She pursued further legal studies while working and briefly practiced law after leaving government service, notably representing two individuals injured during the 2019 protests in Santiago.[4]
Between 2018 and 2021, Jara held academic and administrative roles at the Academy of Christian Humanism University, where she worked as a lecturer and headed the Public Administration program.[15]
Government roles
During the second administration of President Michelle Bachelet, Jara served as chief of staff to Undersecretary Julia Urquieta[16] and later held positions in the Ministry of Social Development under Minister Marcos Barraza.[17] On 10 October 2016, she was appointed Undersecretary of Social Welfare, a position she held until the end of Bachelet's term in March 2018.[18]
In 2021, she ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Conchalí, her home commune.[19] Later that year, she was appointed municipal administrator of Santiago by Mayor Irací Hassler.[20]
Minister of Labor and Social Welfare (2022–2025)
On 21 January 2022, President-elect Gabriel Boric appointed Jara as Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, making her the first Communist Party member to lead the ministry since the return to democracy in 1990.[21] She assumed office on 11 March 2022 and was later included in the comité político (political committee), a group of senior cabinet members.
During her tenure, she led major labor and pension reforms, including the enactment of the 40-hour workweek law, the passage of the "Karin Law" aimed at combating workplace harassment, and the introduction of a comprehensive pension reform proposal.[22][4]
She also gained visibility as a substitute government spokesperson during the temporary absence of Camila Vallejo. Her public approval ratings rose significantly in 2022 and 2023, and she was consistently ranked among the highest-rated cabinet members in public opinion polls.[4]
Jara resigned on 7 April 2025 after being nominated by the Communist Party as its presidential candidate.[23] On 14 April, she received the endorsement of the Humanist Action party.[24]
2025 presidential candidacy
On 29 June 2025, Jara won the Unity for Chile primary, defeating Carolina Tohá, Gonzalo Winter, and Jaime Mulet.[25] She became the official presidential candidate of the ruling coalition for the November 2025 election, and the second woman in the Communist Party's history to run for president, after Gladys Marín.[26]
Within Jara's party circle, her campaign was seen as having the indirect backing of former President Michelle Bachelet, with whom Jara had developed a close working and political relationship. Although Bachelet did not formally endorse any candidate, her call for unity was widely interpreted within Jara's ranks as a gesture of support.[4]
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Personal life
At 19, Jara married Gonzalo Garrido Rojas, a former student leader, electrical engineer, and fellow member of the Communist Youth of Chile (JJCC). He died by suicide on 11 March 1996, leaving a lasting impact on Jara's life and political outlook.[4] She later married Víctor Gajardo Aguilera, with whom she had a son in 2007.[27][28][4] As of 2025, she is in a relationship with Claudio Rodríguez, a social worker and member of the Communist Party. Jara has maintained close ties with Garrido's family and has publicly commemorated his death.[4]
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References
Notes
External links
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