MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Bachelet first overseas visit to Argentina

Chilean elected president Michelle Bachelet first overseas visit will be to Argentina, said Argentine Labour minister Carlos Tomada, head of the delegation which was present Sunday in Chile for the electoral run off.

Mr. Tomada met with Ms Bachelet Sunday night to express president Nestor Kirchner's congratulations on her victory. During the meeting Ms Bachelet anticipated she will try to visit Argentina before March 11, when she takes office, but if that is not possible the elected president will make her first official visit to Buenos Aires.

"The Argentine government celebrates the victory of the (ruling) Concertación coalition because it consolidates the democratic process in Chile", said Mr. Tomada.

Carlos Chacho Alvarez head of the Mercosur Permanent Representatives Committee who was also in Chile to follow the election said that Ms Bachelet's future administration will have a main challenge and that is "diminish the great distance between the high income and mid and low income groups in Chile".

Ms Bachelet challenged all traditional political marketing standards and her victory represents "a cultural revolution for Chile", added Mr. Alvarez.

"The cycle dominated by bipolarity, that is the ruling Concertacion vs "Pinochetism" is over, and a new cycle begins which is the demand from the majority of Chilean people that the economic model should not only be successful from a macroeconomic and export angle, but also a fairer model".