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Chile prepares to hold elections Tycoon tipped to win Chile ballot
(about 2 hours later)
Chile is preparing for the first round presidential elections with four men vying for the job. Chileans are preparing to vote for a new president, with opinion polls suggesting billionaire Sebastian Pinera is the frontrunner.
Opinion polls show that the frontrunner is a centre-right billionaire businessman Sebastian Pinera. The centre-right businessman is one of four men vying for the job.
But he faces a challenge from three left and centre-left candidates - Eduardo Frei, Marco Enriquez-Ominami and Jorge Arrate. He is up against three left and centre-left candidates - Eduardo Frei, Marco Enriquez-Ominami and Jorge Arrate.
If no one manages to get 50% of the vote, the leading two candidates will go through to a run-off on 17 January. BBC correspondents say the signs are that the country could be about to shift to the right, after 20 years of centre-left rule.
The signs are that the country could be about to shift to the right, after 20 years of centre-left rule. If no-one manages to get 50% of the vote on Sunday, the two leading candidates will go through to a run-off on 17 January.
'Second round' Growth promise
Mr Pinera owns a television channel, a stake in Chile's most successful football club, and millions of dollars in investment - he looks certain to win Sunday's ballot. Mr Pinera, 60, owns a television channel, a stake in Chile's most successful football club and has millions of dollars in investments.
The big question is whether he can reach the crucial 50% mark which would secure outright victory and give Chile its first conservative government since 1990, when General Augusto Pinochet finally relinquished power. CHILE'S PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS Sebastian Pinera - centre-right businessman, lost to Michelle Bachelet in 2006 presidential raceEduardo Frei - candidate of the ruling centre-left coalition; served as president 1994-2000Marco Enriquez-Ominami - independent set to split centre-left vote; former film directorJorge Arrate - veteran Socialist, has support of Communist Party
If he cannot - and most polls suggest he will not - then the contest will go to a second round in January, in which Mr Pinera would face one of the leftist candidates - most probably Eduardo Frei, who is seeking his second term as president after an absence of 10 years. He has campaigned on a tough law-and-order ticket and has also vowed to use his business know-how to reactivate the economy, promising Chileans an annual growth rate of 6% for the next four years.
Mr Pinera has campaigned on a tough law-and-order ticket which appears to have gone down well with voters. The BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago says he looks certain to win Sunday's ballot.
Eduardo Frei is seeking a second term as president The big question, our correspondent says, is whether Mr Pinera can reach the crucial 50% mark which would secure outright victory and give Chile its first conservative government since 1990, when strongman Gen Augusto Pinochet finally relinquished power.
He has also vowed to use his business know-how to reactivate the economy, promising Chileans an annual growth rate of 6% for the next four years. If he cannot - and most polls suggest he will not - then the contest will go to a second round in January, in which Mr Pinera would probably face Eduardo Frei, 67, who is seeking his second term as president after an absence of 10 years.
This is the second time he's run for the presidency at the head of a centre-right coalition. Former President Eduardo Frei is seeking another term in office
This is the second time Mr Pinera has run for the presidency at the head of a centre-right coalition.
In 2006, he lost to the extremely popular outgoing Socialist president, Michelle Bachelet.In 2006, he lost to the extremely popular outgoing Socialist president, Michelle Bachelet.
But under the constitution she can't stand for re-election, and her candidate, Mr Frei, is struggling to emulate her popularity. But under the constitution she cannot stand for re-election, and her candidate, Mr Frei, is struggling to emulate her popularity.
The third candidate is Marco Enriquez-Ominami, a 36-year-old independent who has emerged from nowhere and split the centre-left vote.The third candidate is Marco Enriquez-Ominami, a 36-year-old independent who has emerged from nowhere and split the centre-left vote.
He says Chile needs a new face and new ideas in the presidential palace, after two decades of the same coalition.He says Chile needs a new face and new ideas in the presidential palace, after two decades of the same coalition.
The fourth candidate, and rank outsider, is Jorge Arrate, a veteran Socialist who has the support of Chile's communist party. The fourth candidate, and rank outsider, is Jorge Arrate, a veteran Socialist who has the support of Chile's Communist Party.
The centre-left has been split by in-fighting, and many Chileans appear to be ready for a change. The centre-left has been split by in-fighting, and many Chileans appear to be ready for a change, our correspondent says.
If Mr Pinera is successful, it will mark the first time in 51 years that the conservatives have taken power in Chile via the ballot box.If Mr Pinera is successful, it will mark the first time in 51 years that the conservatives have taken power in Chile via the ballot box.
Are you in Chile? How do you intend to vote? What outcome are you hoping for? How important is this election for the country? Send us your comments using the form below.Are you in Chile? How do you intend to vote? What outcome are you hoping for? How important is this election for the country? Send us your comments using the form below.
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & ConditionsThe BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions