MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean opposition presidential candidate ahead in polls

CandidateEduardo Frei

The Chilean Concertación ruling coalition official presidential candidate Eduardo Frei would stand eight points behind conservative presidential hopeful Sebastián Piñera in the event of a run off next January, (following December's first round) according to TNS-Time public opinion poll taken between January 12 and 31st.

The poll which involved 1.320 interviews shows Piñera with 46% of vote intention, while former president Frei has 38%; 10% don't favour any of the two candidates, 5% did not know or did not reply and 2% announced void vote. Mr. Piñera leads in all age groups and in both genders. Regarding registered voters, Piñera is supported by 45% and Frei, 40%; but among unregistered voters the gap is greater: Piñera 48% and Frei, 32%. When asked specifically who would you like to be the next president, 36% said Piñera; 14%, Frei; 6%, former president Ricardo Lagos and 3%, Miguel Insulza, former Home Secretary and currently Secretary General of the Organization of American States, OAS. As to the first round, if the election was Sunday 15th. Piñera has a 44% support and Frei 30%, followed at a distance by two other hopefuls Senator Alejandro Navarro, 5% and Senator Adolfo Zaldívar 3%. The Chilean ruling coalition has been in office since the return of democracy in 1990, with four presidents, Patricio Aylwin; Eduardo Frei; Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet. However with the death of former dictator Pinochet, the conservative parties have become a viable option particularly given the eroded image of the coalition. The Concertacion is made up of Christian Democrats, Socialists and a small Radical party.