MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile has her first elected woman president

Socialist Michelle Bachelet was elected Chile's first woman president on Sunday's run off with a seven point difference over her Conservative rival.

Bachelet from Chile's ruling centre-left coalition garnered 53.51% of the vote while opposition candidate Conservative Sebastian Piñera 46.48%, based on a tally of 97.52% votes counted.

"I want to congratulate Michelle Bachelet for her triumph" said Mr. Piñera a moderate liberal conservative and one of Chile's wealthiest men, in a concession speech on live television a few minutes after vote projections showed a clear victory for her rival.

Ms. Bachelet won in twelve of Chile's thirteen regions, including Magallanes and in metropolitan Santiago she managed almost 54% of the vote against Piñera's 46%.

Medical doctor by profession and former minister of Public Health and Defence under the current administration of President Ricardo Lagos, Ms Bachelet will be the fourth consecutive president from the centre-left coalition which has governed the copper-producing country of 16 million people since Pinochet stepped down in 1990.

Supporters began celebrating at Bachelet's Santiago downtown election headquarters immediately after the official results were read on television by an electoral official.

President Lagos went on national television to congratulate Ms Bachelet victory in the run off. The first presidential election round was held December 11.

"I want to congratulate Michelle Bachelet for the clear victory. Hers is the historic triumph which gives us the privilege of having for the first time in our history a woman as President of Chile", said Mr. Lagos who emphasized that Sunday's results were a "victory for democracy". "She represents the will and wishes of the great majority of Chileans".

President Lagos underlined that Chile's ruling coalition "belongs to all Chileans and is as strong as ever: today Chileans have decided that the "Concertacion" continue to govern the country until the bi-centenary celebrations". (In 2010 Chile will commemorate 200 years of independence from Spain).

And addressing the opposition, Mr. Lagos praised Mr. Piñera's performance, in spite of some strong exchange of accusations during the campaign, and anticipated the opposition coalition, Alianza, which has acted with responsibility, will continue "to ensure governance".

"I'm sure Michelle will face a firm and responsible opposition", concluded Mr. Lagos. Ms Bachelet invited President Lagos to have breakfast at her home Monday morning.

Talking to his supporters Mr. Piñera said "Michelle's victory is homage to the millions of Chilean women whom with effort and tenacity have achieved the place they rightfully deserve in our society".

"I wish her the best because she will be leading Chile to its bicentenary", added Piñera who asked for a special blessing for the future president and the Chilean fatherland.

"In democracy the voice of the majority must be listened and respected, but we don't feel at all defeated, on the contrary the struggle has not ended", stressed Mr. Piñera who promised a constructive opposition but also a close monitoring to ensure the "government does not trip over or fall to temptation".

Finally Piñera complained about the "overwhelming" presence and intervention of the government in open support of Ms Bachelet's campaign which he described at "not healthy for democracy".

Ms Bachelet who takes office next March said she "felt privileged" since she was the first Public Health woman minister in Chile's history, the first Defence minister and now the first elected woman president.