Isabel Godoy

Isabel Godoy
Member of the Constitutional Convention of Chile
In office
4 July 2021 – 4 July 2022
Preceded byoffice established
Personal details
Born
Isabel Selena Godoy Monárdez

1967
NationalityQulla people
OccupationAccountant

Isabel Selena Godoy Monárdez (born 1967) is a Qulla activist and politician in Chile. A former political prisoner during the Chilean military dictatorship,[1][2] Godoy was elected in 2021 to represent the Qulla people at the Constitutional Convention.

Godoy is considered an ally of 2021 Chilean presidential candidate Daniel Jadue of the Communist Party.[3]

Biography

Godoy was born in 1967 to a Qulla family. At the age of 17, Godoy was assaulted by a police officer while protesting the Augusto Pinochet dictatorship and was put in prison for her social activism.[4] Godoy is an accountant by profession[5] and is currently studying to receive a degree in social work.[6]

Godoy has served as a member of the National Council of the Qulla People. Additionally, Godoy has served as president of the Kolla Flora indigenous community.[7]

Constitutional Convention

In the 2021 Constitutional Convention election, Godoy ran to represent a reserved seat for the Qulla people in the Atacama Region. She was elected after receiving 631 votes (29.53%) out of 2,137 votes cast. During her campaign, Godoy indicated she supported the establishment of a plurinational state in Chile inclusive of indigenous nations, and stated that the new constitution should safeguard the legal right to water.[8]

Following her election to the body, Godoy chose to run for President of the Constitutional Convention. In the first round of the election, Godoy received 35 votes, but in the second round lost to Mapuche activist Elisa Loncón, who won with 96 votes in her favor.[9] Godoy has stated that she believes Mapuche leaders consider members of other native nations such as the Qulla, who are smaller in population, as "little brothers" whose autonomy isn't respected.[10]

Godoy is a staunch critic of conservative President of Chile Sebastián Piñera and has called for his resignation, arguing that he has hindered the work of the Constitutional Convention to the point where "we have no choice but to request the resignation of the President".[11]

Political views

Godoy has praised the plurinational model of Bolivia and has called for a similar system to be implemented in Chile to safeguard the rights of indigenous peoples.[12] Godoy has called for an end to what she considers the "militarization" of indigenous areas in Chile.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Constituyente del Pueblo Colla es propuesta para la presidencia de la Convención Constitucional en Chile". 2021.
  2. ^ Chile, C. N. N. "Isabel Godoy relata incidentes afuera de ex Congreso: "Me empujaron, me tironearon, un carabinero me pegó un codazo"". CNN Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  3. ^ Cáceres, Felipe (2021-07-07). "Los nexos entre Isabel Godoy y Daniel Jadue y la suspicacia que levantó en el FA su aparición en la franja PC". La Tercera. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  4. ^ ""They pushed me, they pulled me, a policeman elbowed me"". Today in 24 English. 2021-07-05. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  5. ^ Emol.com, Equipo. "Los miembros de la Convención Constitucional – Una cobertura especial de Emol.com". www.emol.com. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  6. ^ "Entrevista a Isabel Godoy, constituyente electa por el pueblo Colla: "No nos oponemos al desarrollo siempre que sea sustentable y para todos" – Diario Chañarcillo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  7. ^ "Isabel Godoy Monardez – Anales de la República" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  8. ^ "Isabel Godoy, candidata por pueblo Colla: "Vamos por una nueva Constitución que reconozca la condición plurinacional del Estado chileno" – Radio Nuevo Mundo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  9. ^ Gallardo, Rosario (2021-07-04). "Constituyentes eligen a su presidenta: Por 96 respaldos, Elisa Loncón será quien dirigirá la Convención". La Tercera. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  10. ^ "Isabel Godoy, candidata Colla a presidir la Convención: "El pueblo Mapuche nos considera 'los hermanos chicos'"". El Desconcierto - Prensa digital libre (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  11. ^ "Constituyente Isabel Godoy: Piñera debe renunciar". El Ciudadano (in Spanish). 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  12. ^ "Isabel Godoy y Convención Constitucional: "Lo que ha pasado es una inoperancia. Encina renunció pero es cortar por el eslabón más débil"". Futuro (in Spanish). 2021-07-07. Retrieved 2021-07-10.
  13. ^ "Presidencia de la Convención: Cómo se dividieron los pueblos originarios a horas de la sesión inaugural y el perfil de las 3 candidatas | Ex-Ante". www.ex-ante.cl (in Spanish). 2021-07-04. Retrieved 2021-07-10.