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Chile Votes for a New President, but With Little Enthusiasm Ex-Leader Wins First Round of Chile’s Presidential Vote
(about 2 hours later)
SANTIAGO — Chileans cast ballots on Sunday to elect a successor to President Michelle Bachelet, choosing from among an ideologically diverse array of eight candidates, including former President Sebastián Piñera, who was leading in the latest vote count by at least 10 points. SANTIAGO — Former President Sebastián Piñera of Chile, a conservative billionaire, on Sunday won the first round of an election to choose a successor to President Michelle Bachelet.
No candidate was expected to win the absolute majority required to avoid a second round of voting, which would take place Dec. 17. Mr. Piñera, 67, a conservative billionaire businessman, appeared likely to face off against a center-left journalist and former news anchor, Alejandro Guillier, 64. Mr. Piñera, 67, who won 36 percent of the vote, will compete in a runoff election on Dec. 17 against a center-left journalist and former news anchor, Alejandro Guillier, 64, who received 22 percent of the ballots cast.
Coming in a close third may be another journalist with no political experience who became well known for her acid political critiques on radio and television, Beatriz Sánchez, 46, representing the leftist coalition Frente Amplio. The election was the first under new electoral rules in Chile that limit campaign spending and impose greater transparency on it. The rule changes also made voting voluntary and granted Chileans living abroad the right to vote, though only 11 percent of those eligible to vote in 62 countries registered to do so.
The election is the first under new electoral rules that limit campaign spending and impose greater transparency on it. The rules also make voting voluntary and allow for more proportional representation in Congress. And they grant Chileans living abroad the right to vote, though only 11 percent of those eligible to vote in 62 countries registered to do so. But voter turnout over all was low — about 45 percent of those who could cast ballots did so — in keeping with a consistent fall in electoral participation since the return to democracy in Chile in 1990 after 17 years of military dictatorship.
Voter turnout Sunday morning appeared very heavy in parts of Santiago, the capital, but analysts said they expected high abstention levels, in keeping with a consistent fall in electoral participation since the return to democracy in Chile in 1990 after 17 years of military dictatorship. Marta Lagos, director of the polling group Latinobarómetro, said the voter apathy could be explained in large part by a general view that politicians are corrupt and public institutions are not to be trusted.
Marta Lagos, director of the polling group Latinobarómetro, said low voter turnout could be explained in large part by a general view that politicians are corrupt and public institutions are not to be trusted, she said. “People are disappointed with our democracy,” Ms. Lagos said. “Parties and politicians have been totally discredited, and there is a widespread perception that all politicians are corrupt demons, that there is no one to vote for.”
Four members of Congress have been stripped of immunity from prosecution and dozens of politicians, their associates and relatives are being investigated for illegal campaign financing in earlier elections, influence-peddling and other white-collar crimes. She added: “People want a major transformation of the political system and corrupt politicians put in jail, and maybe then they will get out and vote.”
“People are disappointed with our democracy,” Ms. Lagos said. “Parties and politicians have been totally discredited, and there is a widespread perception that all politicians are corrupt demons, that there is no one to vote for. On Sunday morning, a group of demonstrators forced their way into Mr. Piñera’s campaign center to protest the elections. More than 20 were arrested.
“People want a major transformation of the political system and corrupt politicians put in jail, and maybe then they will get out and vote.” In the Araucanía region, about 400 miles from Santiago, the capital, unidentified individuals intercepted a bus that was going to transport voters from rural areas to voting places and set it on fire.
On Sunday morning, a group of demonstrators forced their way into Mr. Piñera’s campaign center to protest the elections. More than 20 were arrested. In the Araucanía region, about 400 miles from Santiago, the capital, unidentified individuals intercepted a bus that was going to transport voters from rural areas to voting places and set it on fire. In all, eight people — an ideologically diverse array of candidates — were on the ballot Sunday.
Both the right-wing opposition and the governing coalition, New Majority, have two candidates competing against each other for the presidency. Mr. Piñera is flanked to the right by José Antonio Kast, an ultrarightist who proposes actions like building a physical barrier along Chile’s northern border with Peru and Bolivia, withdrawing from international treaties and organizations, and abolishing a recently approved law permitting abortions in some cases. Coming in a close third was Beatriz Sánchez, 46, a journalist who had no political experience but was well known for her acid political critiques on radio and television. She represented the leftist coalition Frente Amplio, founded early this year.
Against all predictions, Mr. Kast was so far drawing about eight percent of the vote. Expected to win less than 10 percent of the vote, Ms. Sánchez, was the biggest surprise of the day, drawing the support of over 20 percent of the electorate, though not enough to make it into the two-candidate runoff.
Mr. Guillier was competing with a political ally, Carolina Goic, of the more conservative wing of the centrist Christian Democratic party. The remaining three candidates are all to the political left of Mr. Guillier. Mr. Piñera was flanked on the right by an extremely conservative candidate, José Antonio Kast, who called for Chile to build a barrier along its northern border with Peru and Bolivia; withdrawing from international treaties and organizations; and abolish a recently approved law permitting abortions in some cases.
If Mr. Piñera and Mr. Guillier go on to a second round in December, they will have to cater to the electorate of their former competitors to win. The surge from the left, more relevant than in any other presidential elections since 1990, may change the political map, or at least influence the agenda of the future president. Against all predictions, Mr. Kast drew nearly 8 percent of the vote.
For the first time, political power may not be wielded solely by the two major coalitions that have governed Chile since the end of military rule. Mr. Guillier was competing with a political ally, Carolina Goic, of the more conservative wing of the centrist Christian Democratic party. The remaining three candidates were all to his political left.
Both Mr. Piñera and Mr. Guillier will now have to cater to the electorate of their former competitors to win.
The surge from the left, more relevant than in any other presidential elections since 1990, may change the political map, or at least influence the agenda of the future president.
For the first time, political power will not be wielded solely by the two major coalitions that have governed Chile since the end of military rule. Voters also elected members of the lower house of Congress and half of the Senate seats. Preliminary results on Sunday evening showed significant gains by the Frente Amplio, a stark generational shift, and more women elected to Congress.
“We’ve been living in a democracy full of constraints, with the same politicians in government and Congress for too many years,” said Patricia Bravo, a 56-year old drug rehabilitation therapist who supports Ms. Sánchez. “They already fulfilled their role, which was to transit towards democracy, but it is time to change. This election is an opportunity to start anew.”“We’ve been living in a democracy full of constraints, with the same politicians in government and Congress for too many years,” said Patricia Bravo, a 56-year old drug rehabilitation therapist who supports Ms. Sánchez. “They already fulfilled their role, which was to transit towards democracy, but it is time to change. This election is an opportunity to start anew.”
Ms. Bachelet will finish her four year term in March 2018. Under Chile’s Constitution, she cannot run for immediate re-election. Battered by criticism, sagging popular support and a high-profile corruption case involving her son and daughter-in-law, Ms. Bachelet has publicly vowed that she will not seek any elected office in Chile in the future. Ms. Bachelet will finish her four-year term in March 2018. Under Chile’s Constitution, she cannot run for immediate re-election. Battered by criticism, sagging popular support and a high-profile corruption case involving her son and daughter-in-law, Ms. Bachelet has publicly vowed that she will not seek any elected office in Chile in the future.