Panelist Bรกrbara Figueroa โConfronts Colleagues on ‘Tolerancia Cero’ Over Focus on Jadue, Sparks Response from Host
Santiago, Chile – A heated exchange unfolded on the Chilean television program Tolerancia Cero (Zero Tolerance) on September 2, 2025, as panelist Bรกrbara Figueroa sharply criticized her colleagues for repeatedly diverting discussion towards Daniel Jadue, a Communist Party figure, rather of focusing on the proposals of presidential โขcandidate Jeannette Jara.โข The confrontation led to a โฃmoment of silence and a โsubsequent clarification from program host Mรณnica Rincรณn.
Figueroa, the former president โคof โคthe CUT (Central รnica deโ Trabajadores, Chile’s largest labor federation), expressed frustration wihtโฃ the panel’s preoccupation with Jadue. “Where is the debate about this? When are we discussing this?” she โคasked, referencing โฃJara’s policy proposals. The exchangeโฃ occurred amidst a discussion whereโฃ Figueroa โคfelt the focus was misplaced, especially given the sensitive nature of the topics and publicโ distrust in politics.
political scientist Danielโ Mansuy attempted to downplay the emphasis on โJadue, stating, “Daniel Jadue’s noise is put โby Alfredo [Joignant, another panelist]. I don’t even put it,โ Barbara.” Figueroa responded by emphasizing her duty to steer the โขconversation towards substantive policy โdebates.”I am saying that when one comes to a program to discuss such sensitive matters as the future of theโค population, being aware that politics does not enjoyโค the best prestige, my main work is to face โฃthe debate,” she stated. “I have โคa main duty, which is to โput on the tableโค that we want to discuss programmaticโข ideas to take care of essential challenges.”
Following a brief silence,โฃ Mรณnica Rincรณn intervened, reminding the panel, “We have โขasked at least four questions โฃregarding programmatic topics.” The incident highlights ongoing โฃtensions within Chileanโ politicalโ discourse regarding the balance โbetween personality-driven narratives and substantive policy โdiscussions, particularly as the contryโข approaches a presidential election.