News / More

Chile’s ex-president Pinera leads vote, but faces runoff

Monday, 20 November 2017 8:53 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 20 November 2017 8:53 AM ]

Chilean presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera delivers a speech at the party headquarters in Santiago de Chile on November 19, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera will face center-left Senator Alejandro Guillier in a runoff for Chile’s presidency next month, after a first round vote on Sunday (November 19) that Pinera won, but with fewer votes than expected.

Both candidates would keep in place the top copper exporter’s longstanding free-market economic model, but former president Pinera has promised investor-friendly policies to turbocharge growth, while Guillier wants to press on with outgoing President Michelle Bachelet’s overhaul of education, taxes and labor.

With over 98 percent of votes counted, Pinera, a 67-year-old businessman, had clinched 36.6 percent, falling short of the 50 percent needed for an outright victory, Chile’s electoral agency Servel said.

Guillier, a 64-year-old bearded former TV news anchor elected to the Senate in 2013, had 22.7 percent, just over two points ahead of the third placed candidate, leftist Beatriz Sanchez, whose better than expected showing will likely ensure her Frente Amplio coalition will yield sway in Congress.

Chilean presidential candidate for the ruling New Majority coalition Alejandro Guillier speaks at the end of the elections at the party headquarters in Santiago de Chile on November 19, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

Piner’s result was below pollster expectations, indicating that the Dec. 17 runoff will likely be a more closely-fought contest than previously forecast, especially if Guillier can rally supporters of Sanchez and four other left-leaning rivals behind him.

The most recent opinion survey by CEP last month had forecast Pinera securing 42 percent of likely votes in the first round, and easily defeating Guillier in the runoff.

Bachelet cannot run again this year because of term limits. Guillier was one of two candidates her center-left coalition Nueva Mayoria backed in the first round.

Speaking from the presidential palace on Sunday evening, she urged Chileans to vote in December, saying her policy changes were at stake.

(Source: Reuters)

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk