SANTIAGO – Today, Chileans voted in a runoff presidential election to choose between former president Sebastian Piñera and one-time TV news anchor Alejandro Guillier.
Chile elects Sebastián Piñera as Bachelet’s successor
The two candidates were neck and neck in recent opinion polls, a somewhat surprising turn of events given the results of the first round of the election, on Nov. 19. Mr. Piñera obtained 36 percent of votes that day, compared with 22 percent for Mr. Guillier; 20 percent for Beatriz Sánchez, of the leftist coalition Frente Amplio that was founded early this year; and 8 percent for José Antonio Kast, a far-right champion of the Pinochet dictatorship.
Explosive devices add tension to Chile’s run-off presidential election
The top two contenders in the first round, where turnout was below 50 percent, were eligible for the runoff. They have spent the past few weeks trying to reach out to voters on extreme ends of the political spectrum, in addition to voters closer to the center.
Chile’s presidential election is the first in a series that will alter the political trajectory of Latin America. Voters in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and Paraguay will elect presidents in 2018.
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Pinera wins Presidency
Piñera adresses the crowd: ´Lets make Chile into a developed country´. #ChileElige
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 18, 2017
Supporters of @sebastianpinera wait for the new president to adress the crowd. pic.twitter.com/UpK7yHEShk
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 18, 2017
With more than 3 million votes counted, Piñera seems to head to victory with 54,29% of the votes. #ChileElige
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
Optimism at Piñera´s headquarters, as it seems he will win the election. His wife, @ceciliamorel , adresses the crowd as she thanks them for their support. ¨Let´s wait the results and celebrate¨ pic.twitter.com/r9wnRqPSA1
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
Isabel Allende, senator of Valparaíso, talks about the low turnout:´´Something is wrong with Chile´´. #ChileElige
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
- The polling stations closed at 18.00.
Ernesto Velasco, President of the Radical Party, recognizes a smaller participation than in the first round, but should be similar as the results progress
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
Presidential candidate @sebastianpinera arrives at Crowne Plaza, where he will follow the outcome of the presidential elections #ChileElige pic.twitter.com/sOTkcrtXvP
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
Voters leave a polling station, Liceo Carmela Donoso, the same where Beatriz Sanchez cast her vote. #EleccionesChile2017 #ChileElige pic.twitter.com/7eEBi4GPBx
— SantiagoTimes (@SantiagoTimes) December 17, 2017
