The Defeat of Angry Men in Chile

Francisco Orrego

HAVANA TIMES – The recent defeat of Francisco Orrego in the race for the governorship of the Metropolitan Region of Chile is not only good news for those of us who believe that figures like him pose a danger to the country’s democracy, but also because it represents a defeat for a certain angry masculinity that has gained strength in many countries, using digital platforms to spread a discourse that openly denies gender inequality.

This is the case with the program Sin Filtros (Without Filters), which has been broadcast in recent years via cable TV and YouTube. It has become the best exponent of a hyper-masculinized far-right format, like a political ring, where insults, disqualifications, mockery, cruelty, and the denial of the other are constant features. In this space, rather than the discussion of ideas, it is a true war to see who can shout the loudest and humiliate the other more.

Created by Sebastian Eyzaguirre, a misogynist and abuser of women, and hosted by Gonzalo Feito, another far-right activist, Sin Filtros became an ideal program for thousands of men who resist losing their privileges and questioning a violent masculinity, seeing the progress of feminism as a threat to their freedom to say and do whatever they please.

Thus, the main exponent and panelist of Sin Filtros from its beginnings, Francisco Orrego, fits perfectly with the profile of the angry far-right man against everything that is or seems left-wing or “the leftist scum,” as they say, with feminism being their primary enemy to defeat.

We saw this in the 2022 constitutional debate, where he called the new draft a “disaster,” denouncing every action of Gabriel Boric’s government and even aggressively insulting the director of El Ciudadano newspaper, Josefa Barraza, in a completely degrading and sexist manner, true to his style.

But of course, as a good representative of the far right and the so-called cultural battle against “woke” ideology, “gender ideology,” and political correctness, Francisco Orrego denies his own patriarchal aggressiveness, claiming to be merely a passionate, direct person who tells the truth (3).

This is a textbook argument from this new denialist right, similar to those used by figures like Milei, Trump, and Bolsonaro, or Chilean extremists such as the Kaiser brothers, Gonzalo de la Carrera, or Teresa Marinovic, who, like Francisco Orrego, appeal to freedom of speech to say anything.

Luckily, in Chile, this type of figure and far-right politics have not grown as much as they would have liked, but we must not be careless, as they will continue with this style, without any self-reflection, as happened with Francisco Orrego on Sin Filtros after losing to Claudio Orrego.

I mention this because when reviewing the video of Francisco Orrego on Sin Filtros, one only sees a person unable to show even the slightest vulnerability in the face of defeat, instead reinforcing the classic strong macho image, one who “takes no hits” and always moves forward, looking more like a meme or a caricature of the existing hegemonic masculinity.

A sad reality, but we are in a time when many men find themselves in a state of complete denial, bringing out the worst in themselves to avoid any change that might problematize even the roles, stereotypes, and gender inequalities that have been imposed on us for centuries.

Finally, I should mention that when I was a candidate for city council, the Sin Filtros production team contacted me and proposed that I appear on the show as a panelist. I declined, as I told them that it was not the type of program I felt comfortable with, being explicitly made for the far-right.

I believe it was the right decision, even though figures like Francisco Orrego or others of his type might think that refusing to participate is cowardly, and that it is more “manly” to be there and fight in that political ring called Sin Filtros.

Read more from Chile here on Havana Times.