MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean presidential candidate recovers comfortable lead

Chile's ruling coalition presidential candidate for December 11 elections, Michelle Bachelet has managed to recover the advantage she had over her conservative rivals, according to the latest opinion poll released this week in Santiago.

The Contemporary Studies Centre, (CERC), public opinion poll shows Ms Bachelet with 44% of vote intention followed by right wing Joaquin Lavin, 20% and Liberal Sebastián Piñera 19%, and trailing behind Tomas Hirsch with 7%. Ms. Bachelet actually advanced two points and her two immediate followers, three points each, compared to a similar public opinion poll from October.

If there's a run off, probably January 15, CERC and other recent polls coincide that the ruling coalition candidate will obtain 57% of the vote and Mr. Lavin 29%, and if the runner up was to be Mr Piñera the score would be 54% and 34%.

The latest percentages helped relieve the ruling coalition and Ms. Bachellet campaign team since only early this week another poll showed that if elections were held the following Sunday, the former Defence Minister would obtain 39% of the vote and her two conservative competitors, Piñera 22% and Lavin 21%. Mr. Hirsh figured with 3%. The really disturbing fact was that for the first time in months the two Conservative candidates added had a higher percentage than Ms. Bachelet, 43% vs 39%.

However the four candidates also participated last Thursday in a television debate and the opinion surveys had Ms. Bachelet as a clear winner over Mr. Lavin and Mr. Pilñera.

Mr. Lavin said the debate didn't generate many changes in the electorate's vote intention, besides Mr. Hirsch advancement from 3 to 5%, "but I'm convinced there will be a second round, and in the run off we can beat the incumbent candidate".

The hour and a half long debate began with short coincidental statements from all candidates regarding tense relations between Chile and Peru because of sea delimitation. In other issues such as social exclusion, immigration and investment in the less favoured segments of the community in an attempt to combat poverty which still represents a significant 20% of the Chilean population in spite of the strong performance of the economy, candidates had relatively similar positions.

The many trade agreements Chile has signed over the years were vehemently defended by the three main candidates and criticized by Mr. Hirsch.

A contentious issue was gay marriage, which was rejected point blank by the male contenders, with Ms. Bachelet admitting that "Chile was not ready for a decision of that nature".

Chile's general election is scheduled for December 18. If a run off is needed it will take place January 11 between the two most voted candidates. Chile since returning to democracy in 1990 has been ruled by a coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats and other smaller parties. During the first two presidencies Christian Democrats were the senior partners in the coalition but with current Socialist president Ricardo Lagos victory in 2000, they have become the junior partner.