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Chile's opposition confirms advance in municipal vote

Monday, October 27th 2008 - 20:00 UTC
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Pablo Zalaquet, the newly elected mayor of Santiago Pablo Zalaquet, the newly elected mayor of Santiago

Chile's conservative opposition collected a string of surprise wins in municipal elections across the country Sunday, delivering a blow to the ruling coalition of President Michele Bachelet as her party heads into next year's presidential race.

With 73% of ballots counted late Sunday, four opposition parties were winning about 40% of mayoral votes cast across the country and picking up mayors in some of Chile's largest cities, including the capital of Santiago and Concepcion. Bachelet's coalition was winning about 38%. The tally was reversed in separate votes for city councils, as Bachelet's coalition led with 44% of votes to 35% for her opponents. A host of smaller parties picked up the difference in both contests. Chile's election authority declares winners in individual elections but also pools the votes together to tally each party's support nationwide, a popular barometer of political strength. Bachelet called her coalition's success in council races proof that it is "the nation's primary political force". But she also urged it to unite and work harder. "We have to listen to the voice of the people and give our political action a new dynamic", she said in a televised address. Opposition mayors and lawmakers called the results a warning to Bachelet's government that their conservative alliance will retake the presidency next year. "People have voted for change" said Pablo Zalaquet, the newly elected mayor of Santiago. Four years ago, when Bachelet was Defence minister, her coalition won 45% of mayoral votes and 47% of city council votes. The Concertacion coalition of President Bachelet has been ruling Chile since the return of democracy in 1990 with two Christian democrat and two Socialist presidents having alternated. However latest opinion polls show that the conservative opposition has been gaining strength and one of the main parties of the ruling coalition, the Christian Democrats has virtually split. Last October 12 an opinion poll published by Santiago's La Tercera showed billionaire Sebastian Piñera, the likely candidate for the opposition, would win the next presidential election in December 2009. Bachelet's government has suffered this year as droughts and energy shortages fuelled inflation, and a controversial public transport system in Santiago split parties and lost them control of Congress. Congress then impeached Bachelet's education minister, Yasna Provoste, for failing to prevent accounting irregularities in her ministry. She has denied any wrongdoing. The four parties that comprise the Concertacion coalition have yet to agree on a candidate to succeed Bachelet. Christian Democrat former President Eduardo Frei and party leader Soledad Alvear are fighting for their party's nomination. The Socialist Party may support Jose-Miguel Insulza, the current secretary-general of the Organization of American States.

Categories: Politics, Latin America.

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