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Jeannette Jara

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Jara and the second or maternal family name is Román.
Jeannette Jara
Official portrait, 2022
Minister of Labor and Social Provision
In office
11 March 2022 – 7 April 2025
PresidentGabriel Boric
Preceded byPatricio Melero
Succeeded byGiorgio Boccardo
Undersecretary of Social Provision
In office
10 November 2016 – 11 March 2018
PresidentMichelle Bachelet
Preceded byJulia Urquieta
Succeeded byMaría José Zaldívar
President of the University of Santiago, Chile Students Federation
In office
1997–1998
Succeeded byMarcos Barraza
Personal details
Born (1974-04-23) 23 April 1974 (age 51)
Santiago, Chile
Political partyCommunist Party
(1989−present)
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionPublic Administrator
Lawyer

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 was nominated as the presidential candidate of the government coalition Unity for Chile (Unidad por Chile) for the 2025 general election.[2]

Early life and education

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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]

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]

Political and professional career

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Career in public service and union activity

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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

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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)

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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:[22][4]

  • The enactment of the 40-hour workweek law.
  • The "Karin Law" against workplace harassment.
  • An extensive pension reform proposal.

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

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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]

Her campaign received indirect support from former President Michelle Bachelet, with whom Jara had developed a close working and political relationship. While Bachelet did not formally endorse any candidate, her call for unity was widely interpreted as favorable to Jara.[4]

Personal life

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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]

References

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  1. ^ "Jeannette Jara, la exdirigenta sindical y exsubsecretaria de Previsión Social que asume como ministra del Trabajo". El Mostrador. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  2. ^ Villegas, Alexander (2025-06-29). "Chile picks Jeannette Jara to face off against right-wing presidential field". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  3. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Palma, Sebastián (2025-07-06). "El íntimo perfil de Jeannette Jara: su luto juvenil, el liderazgo estudiantil en la Usach y su cercanía con Michelle Bachelet". The Clinic (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-08.
  5. ^ Arellano, Jorge (2025-04-08). "¿Del Cortijo a La Moneda?: la historia de cómo Jeannette Jara se convirtió en candidata presidencial". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  6. ^ "Quién es Jeannette Jara, la nueva ministra de Trabajo de Gabriel Boric". La Tercera. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  7. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  8. ^ "El intenso trayecto político de Jeannette Jara (y los desconocidos pasajes de su historia)". Ex-Ante. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30.
  9. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  10. ^ "Quién es la subsecretaria comunista que abrió los fuegos contra la encuesta de AFP Habitat sobre las pensiones". El Libero. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  11. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  12. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  13. ^ "Quién es la subsecretaria comunista que abrió los fuegos contra la encuesta de AFP Habitat sobre las pensiones". El Libero. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  15. ^ "Anales de la República; Jeannette Jara Román". www.anales.cl. 2021. Archived from the original on 2025-02-17. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  16. ^ "Quién es la subsecretaria comunista que abrió los fuegos contra la encuesta de AFP Habitat sobre las pensiones". El Libero. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  17. ^ "Quién es la subsecretaria comunista que abrió los fuegos contra la encuesta de AFP Habitat sobre las pensiones". El Libero. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  18. ^ "Quién es la subsecretaria comunista que abrió los fuegos contra la encuesta de AFP Habitat sobre las pensiones". El Libero. 16 July 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  19. ^ "Quién es Jeannette Jara, la nueva ministra de Trabajo de Gabriel Boric". La Tercera. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  20. ^ Ex-Ante (17 January 2022). "Quiénes son las cartas que entregó el PC a Boric para conformar el gabinete". T13. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  21. ^ "Jeannette Jara asumió como ministra del Trabajo y Previsión Social". Sence. 2022-03-11. Archived from the original on 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  22. ^ "Entrada en vigencia de la Ley 40 Horas, de la Ley Karin y el alza del salario mínimo a $ 500 mil destacan en el balance ministerial de 2024". Ministerio del Trabajo y Previsión Social (in Spanish). 2024-12-31. Retrieved 2025-04-08.
  23. ^ Copa, Nelson Quiroz,Diana (2025-04-07). "Jeannette Jara renuncia al Ministerio del Trabajo tras anunciar candidatura presidencial por el PC". ADN Radio (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-07.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  24. ^ Carvajal, Agurto, Shelmmy, Carlos (2025-04-14). "Acción Humanista oficializa apoyo a candidatura presidencial de Jeannette Jara". La Tercera (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-04-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Tras triunfo de Jeannette Jara: estos son los candidatos presidenciales definitivos para noviembre". 24 Horas (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-06-29.
  26. ^ Montes, Rocío; Sanhueza, Ana María (2025-04-26). "Jeannette Jara, candidata presidencial del Partido Comunista chileno: "No trabajo con lógicas refundacionales"". El País Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2025-07-02.
  27. ^ "Jeannette Jara Román, nueva Subsecretaria de Previsión Social". Superintendencia de Seguridad Social. 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  28. ^ "El intenso trayecto político de Jeannette Jara (y los desconocidos pasajes de su historia)". Ex-Ante. 2025-06-30. Retrieved 2025-06-30.

Notes

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a.^ A product promoter hired to advertise or hand out samples at stores and events.
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