Michelle Bachelet poised for return to Chilean presidency

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/15/michelle-bachelet-chile-presidential-runoff

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Michelle Bachelet is almost certain to win Chile's presidential runoff on Sunday, riding a wave of hope that brought millions of Chileans to the streets in recent years demanding education reform, environmental protection and a reduction in income inequality.

But concerns of a low turnout worried Bachelet, who needs a strong mandate to make good on her promises. "This is an important day and I hope people can come and participate and through their vote give a clear expression of the kind of Chile where they want to continue to live," she said after voting in Santiago. "The changes we need can't be produced through scepticism."

Bachelet, 62, ended her 2006-2010 presidential term with 84% approval ratings despite failing to achieve any major changes. This time activists are vowing to hold her to promises to raise corporate taxes to help fund an education overhaul and even change the dictatorship-era constitution, a difficult goal given congressional opposition.

Many Chileans blame policies imposed by Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship for keeping wealth and power in few hands. Pinochet effectively ended land reform by selling off the nation's water, and preserved the best education for elites by ending the central control and funding of public schools.

Polls showed Bachelet's rival, the conservative former finance minister Evelyn Matthei, was likely to suffer a bruising defeat because of her past support for Pinochet and her ties to the outgoing president, Sebastián Piñera.

Piñera, a billionaire entrepreneur, became Chile's first centre-right president since the return of democracy and, with 34% support in the latest polls, the most unpopular.

This was Chile's first presidential election after voter registration became automatic, increasing the electorate from eight million to 13.5 million. But voting became optional with the change, and only 50% of voters turned out in the first round, frustrating both the major coalitions.

It also was Chile's first choice between two women. Bachelet, a paediatrician, and Matthei, an economist, share a dramatic history: playmates while growing up on a military base, they found themselves on opposite sides of Chile's wide political divide after the 1973 military coup.

Matthei's father became a member of Pinochet's junta while Bachelet's father was tortured to death for refusing to support the strongman. Bachelet, a moderate socialist, was imprisoned herself and forced into exile. The two women remained cordial over the years while they rose through the ranks of the right and left.

Matthei, 60, says Chile must continue business-friendly policies she credits for fast growth and low unemployment under Piñera. She backed Pinochet in a 1988 referendum on continuing his rule and now opposes changing the Pinochet-era constitution. She is also against gay marriage, abortion and higher taxes.

"Our proposal basically targets the middle class, which is the backbone of our country," Matthei said after voting on Sunday. "Their daily effort has to be met with help from the state."

Bachelet is seen as having more charisma and empathy, but her critics say that should not make up for her mistakes. When a devastating earthquake struck 11 days before the end of her term, killing more than 500 people, the national emergency office failed to issue a tsunami warning. Many coastal dwellers thought they were safe and failed to run to higher ground.

"I want change and I don't like Mrs Bachelet. She did so many bad things when she was president," said Olga Espinoza, 62, a maid who voted for Matthei. "How many people died in the quake because of her? We're the same age, we have the same zodiac sign but I don't like anything about her."

Paola Bustamante, a 40-year-old sculptor who voted for Bachelet, said: "Abroad you often hear that this country has been growing and progressing more than others in Latin America, but it can't be just a matter of growth. We need urgent educational reform, improvements to health and I feel Bachelet can fulfil promises of deep changes this time around."

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