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Ex-Leader Wins First Round of Chile’s Presidential Vote Ex-Leader Wins First Round of Chile’s Presidential Vote
(about 1 hour later)
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.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.
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.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.
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 biggest surprise of the day was the surge of the left, marking a shift in Chile’s political map.
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. Coming in a close third was another journalist, Beatriz Sánchez, 46, who had no political experience but became well known for her acid political critiques on radio and television.
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. Ms. Sánchez represented the leftist coalition Frente Amplio, which was founded early this year. Expected to draw less than 10 percent of the vote, she won over 20 percent.
“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.” For the first time, as of next year political power will not be wielded solely by the two major coalitions that have governed Chile since the end of military rule in 1990. Preliminary results on Sunday evening showed significant gains by the Frente Amplio in Congress, as well as a stark generational shift and a greater number of women elected as lawmakers.
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.” “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 supported 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.”
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. The election — which was also for the lower house of Congress and for half the seats in the Senate — was the first to be held under new electoral rules that limit campaign spending and impose greater transparency. The rules make voting voluntary and allow for more proportional representation in Congress. They also grant Chileans living abroad the right to vote, though only 11 percent of those eligible to vote in 62 countries registered to do so.
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. Voter turnout was low, about 45 percent, in keeping with a consistent fall in electoral participation since the return to democracy in Chile after 17 years of military dictatorship. Marta Lagos, director of the polling group Latinobarómetro, said the apathy could be explained in large part by a general view that politicians are corrupt and public institutions are not to be trusted.
In all, eight people — an ideologically diverse array of candidates — were on the ballot Sunday. 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.
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. “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. People want a major transformation of the political system and corrupt politicians put in jail, and maybe then they will get out and 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. 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.
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. In all, eight people — an ideologically diverse array of candidates — were on the ballot on Sunday.
Against all predictions, Mr. Kast drew nearly 8 percent of the vote. Both the right-wing opposition and the governing coalition, New Majority, had two candidates competing against each other for the presidency. Mr. Piñera was flanked to the right by the extremely conservative José Antonio Kast, who advocates 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.
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. Against all predictions, Mr. Kast drew nearly eight percent of the vote.
Both Mr. Piñera and Mr. Guillier will now have to cater to the electorate of their former competitors to win. 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 the political left of Mr. Guillier.
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. 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.
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.”
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.