This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-25387340
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Chile election: Bachelet and Matthei fight in run-off | Chile election: Bachelet and Matthei fight in run-off |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Chileans are casting their votes in a presidential run-off, with Michelle Bachelet widely expected to win. | |
| The left-wing candidate faces Evelyn Matthei, a former minister in the governing centre-right coalition. | The left-wing candidate faces Evelyn Matthei, a former minister in the governing centre-right coalition. |
| Ms Bachelet, who was president in 2006-10, won the first round last month, but failed to secure an outright majority. | Ms Bachelet, who was president in 2006-10, won the first round last month, but failed to secure an outright majority. |
| The contenders are the daughters of air force generals, once friends, who found themselves on opposite sides when Gen Augusto Pinochet seized power in 1973. | The contenders are the daughters of air force generals, once friends, who found themselves on opposite sides when Gen Augusto Pinochet seized power in 1973. |
| 'Radical' manifesto | 'Radical' manifesto |
| Polls across Chile opened at 08:00 local time (11:00 GMT) and will close 10 hours later. | |
| A paediatrician by training, Ms Bachelet, 62, won 47% of the vote in the first round on 17 November. Ms Matthei secured 25%. | A paediatrician by training, Ms Bachelet, 62, won 47% of the vote in the first round on 17 November. Ms Matthei secured 25%. |
| Everything suggests Ms Bachelet will comfortably win the run-off, the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago reports. | Everything suggests Ms Bachelet will comfortably win the run-off, the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago reports. |
| She leads an alliance of her Socialist Party, Christian Democrats and Communists and has campaigned on policies designed to reduce the gap between rich and poor. | She leads an alliance of her Socialist Party, Christian Democrats and Communists and has campaigned on policies designed to reduce the gap between rich and poor. |
| Chile is one of the richest countries in Latin America, but millions have staged protests over the past few years to push for a wider distribution of wealth and better education. | Chile is one of the richest countries in Latin America, but millions have staged protests over the past few years to push for a wider distribution of wealth and better education. |
| Ms Bachelet wants to increase taxes to offer free university education and reform political and economic structures dating from the dictatorship of Gen Pinochet, who ruled from 1973 to 1990. | Ms Bachelet wants to increase taxes to offer free university education and reform political and economic structures dating from the dictatorship of Gen Pinochet, who ruled from 1973 to 1990. |
| Her manifesto this time is much more radical than before, our correspondent says. | Her manifesto this time is much more radical than before, our correspondent says. |
| Ms Bachelet was constitutionally barred from serving a second successive term but was very popular when she left office. | Ms Bachelet was constitutionally barred from serving a second successive term but was very popular when she left office. |
| Ms Matthei entered the race after two candidates of the centre-right alliance resigned earlier this year - one for alleged financial irregularities, the other one after struggling with depression. | Ms Matthei entered the race after two candidates of the centre-right alliance resigned earlier this year - one for alleged financial irregularities, the other one after struggling with depression. |
| Evelyn Matthei, 60, has called for a continuation of the policies of outgoing President Sebastian Pinera, asserting that Chileans are "better off" now than when he came to power four years ago. | Evelyn Matthei, 60, has called for a continuation of the policies of outgoing President Sebastian Pinera, asserting that Chileans are "better off" now than when he came to power four years ago. |
| As children in the 1950s, the current rivals were neighbours and used to play together on the airbase where their fathers worked. | As children in the 1950s, the current rivals were neighbours and used to play together on the airbase where their fathers worked. |
| Evelyn Matthei's father, Fernando, rose through the ranks to run a military school. | Evelyn Matthei's father, Fernando, rose through the ranks to run a military school. |
| Michelle Bachelet's father, Alberto, who was given a job in the Socialist administration overthrown by Gen Pinochet, died of a heart attack in 1974. | Michelle Bachelet's father, Alberto, who was given a job in the Socialist administration overthrown by Gen Pinochet, died of a heart attack in 1974. |
| An investigation concluded that the 51-year-old general probably died of heart problems aggravated by torture at the military academy. | An investigation concluded that the 51-year-old general probably died of heart problems aggravated by torture at the military academy. |
| A judge ruled earlier this year that Gen Matthei had no knowledge of or involvement in the torture. | A judge ruled earlier this year that Gen Matthei had no knowledge of or involvement in the torture. |
| The lower house of congress and half the senate are also being elected. | The lower house of congress and half the senate are also being elected. |