MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bachelet targets ruling coalition dissident votes

The winner of the Chilean presidential election first round Michelle Bachelet presented Tuesday her new “Political-Strategic Command” with a leading presence of Christian Democrat personalities in what seems an attempt to attract the votes of the ruling coalition junior partner for the January 15 runoff.

The "refurbished" command includes an outstanding former Senator and party chairman Andres Zaldivar, two former presidents Eduardo Frei and Patricio Aylwin and Education minister Sergio Bitar who resigned his post for a full job in revamping Socialist Ms. Bachelet's campaign.

Last Sunday Bachelet garnered 45% of the vote, --and the ruling coalition Congressional candidates 55%--, but for the first time since the return of democracy in Chile, the conservative opposition with two candidates, Sebastian Piñera and Joaquin Lavin reached almost 49%. A communist-green coalition obtained 5,4%.

Apparently disenchantment among the more traditional rank and file Christian Democrats who see the Socialist led ruling coalition too tilted to the left, convinced then to vote for the more liberal conservative and articulate Piñera.

Bachelet and her new strategic command will now be concentrated in trying to convince the dissident Christian Democrats to return to the fold and at the same time reach some understanding with the red-green leadership to ensure a majority next January 15.

Although Chilean president Ricardo Lagos has proved a most successful leader with record support ratings, and so have the ruling coalition's representatives that will now control both houses, Ms Bachelet still has an uphill road in a still very conservative society, in spite of the advances of the Lagos years.

"Together again, we all belong to Concertacion (the ruling coalition of Socialists, Christian Democrats and four other smaller parties), how we have been since we recovered democracy (1990), emphasized Ms Bachelet in the launching of the campaign for the run off.

Recalling that millionaire Piñera worked for the last Pinochet government, Bachelet asked, "and who are the members of his team? The same right wing that never had the will power to admit the mistakes committed". She went on to say that "I represent continuity, but also change, a fresh start, because I worked side by side with that great president we Chileans all love and admire, Ricardo Lagos".

But in spite of the optimistic launching, a second line Christian Democrat leader, Roberto Mayorga who admitted voting for Piñera said that "30% of Christian Democrats did not vote for Bachelet". He then added that "she does not represent us humanist Christians. The Christian Democracy is now clamped on a left wing axis, which has made it loose weight and significance inside the ruling coalition Concertacion".

"We have to put an end to the "Yes" and "No" of the Chilean past and act like humanist Christians and look forward, as Piñera is inviting and challenging us to do", said Mayorga.

However re-elected Christian Democrat Patricio Walker pointed out that Bachelet has a more accessible run off than President Lagos in 2000.

"Lagos virtually tied in the 1999 first round and Bachelet was twenty points ahead of her runner up on Sunday", he pointed out forecasting that the red-greens will vote for the former Defence minister in the run off. "Besides, many of Lavin's votes will end up with Bachelet".

Nevertheless, Walker admitted that Mr. Piñera is a very astute and skillful candidate who managed to nail a wedge of doubt among Christian Democrats.

Ms Bachelet also addressed the issue saying that "Christian Democrats are inside the Concertacion, with Michelle Bachelet and completely convinced. The rest is mere speculation" emphasizing that she obtained a million votes more than Mr. Piñera.

"I want to be straight to the eye: Christian Democrats are fully square behind Michelle Bachelet" who then went on to question the representation of several Christian Democrat leaders who publicly appeared supporting the Piñera campaign.

"The Concertación for many, many years, since we organized to defeat Pinochet's referendum, has been a closely knit alliance, humanist Christians next to humanist laics, and we share the same principles, the same values, so I think Mr. Piñera's attempt to approach Christian Democrats will not be effective".

But the party's chairman Senator Zaldivar was not so friendly and warned that Christian Democrat party members who support Mr. Piñera will be expulsed from the organization.

"We're absolutely surprised with this (dissident) attitude, it's not the way to act when you are a full member of the party?" he said.