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Ex-president Michelle Bachelet wins Chile poll run-off | Ex-president Michelle Bachelet wins Chile poll run-off |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Left-wing candidate Michelle Bachelet has been elected Chilean president for a second time, defeating her run-off rival by a wide margin. | |
With nearly 90% of the vote counted, Ms Bachelet had 62% to 38% for Evelyn Matthei, a former minister from the ruling centre-right coalition. | With nearly 90% of the vote counted, Ms Bachelet had 62% to 38% for Evelyn Matthei, a former minister from the ruling centre-right coalition. |
Ms Bachelet first served as president in 2006-10, after which she was obliged by electoral laws to stand down. | Ms Bachelet first served as president in 2006-10, after which she was obliged by electoral laws to stand down. |
She narrowly missed out on outright victory in the first round last month. | She narrowly missed out on outright victory in the first round last month. |
"I am happy with the result and victory and I shall be a president for everyone in Chile," Ms Bachelet, 62, said as she received a congratulatory telephone call from outgoing President Sebastian Pinera, according to Reuters. | "I am happy with the result and victory and I shall be a president for everyone in Chile," Ms Bachelet, 62, said as she received a congratulatory telephone call from outgoing President Sebastian Pinera, according to Reuters. |
Ms Bachelet is now set to become the first leader in Chile to serve two terms since the military rule of Gen Augusto Pinochet in 1973 to 1990. | Ms Bachelet is now set to become the first leader in Chile to serve two terms since the military rule of Gen Augusto Pinochet in 1973 to 1990. |
Upon hearing the news, her supporters have been celebrating on the streets by waving flags and sounding car horns in the capital Santiago. | Upon hearing the news, her supporters have been celebrating on the streets by waving flags and sounding car horns in the capital Santiago. |
"It is clear at this point. She won. And we congratulate her. Later on, I will go speak with her personally," Ms Matthei, 60, told reporters. | "It is clear at this point. She won. And we congratulate her. Later on, I will go speak with her personally," Ms Matthei, 60, told reporters. |
Official results of Sunday's run-off are expected soon. Turnout appears to have been lower than expected. | Official results of Sunday's run-off are expected soon. Turnout appears to have been lower than expected. |
'Radical' manifesto | 'Radical' manifesto |
A paediatrician by training, Ms Bachelet won 47% of the vote in the first round on 17 November. Ms Matthei secured 25%. | A paediatrician by training, Ms Bachelet won 47% of the vote in the first round on 17 November. Ms Matthei secured 25%. |
Ms Bachelet 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. | Ms Bachelet 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. | Ms Bachelet wants to increase taxes to offer free university education and reform political and economic structures dating from the dictatorship of Gen Pinochet. |
Her manifesto this time is much more radical than before, the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago reports. | Her manifesto this time is much more radical than before, the BBC's Gideon Long in Santiago reports. |
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. |
Shared childhood | Shared childhood |
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, both air force generals, worked. | As children in the 1950s, the current rivals were neighbours and used to play together on the airbase where their fathers, both air force generals, 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, had a job in the Socialist administration overthrown by Gen Augusto Pinochet in the 1973 coup. | Michelle Bachelet's father, Alberto, had a job in the Socialist administration overthrown by Gen Augusto Pinochet in the 1973 coup. |
He died in 1974 of a heart attack while in custody. An investigation concluded that the 51-year-old general had probably died of heart problems aggravated by torture at the military academy. | He died in 1974 of a heart attack while in custody. An investigation concluded that the 51-year-old general had 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. |