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Bachelet wins presidential election in Chile
Socialist Michelle Bachelet, who was Chile's president from 2006 to 2010, cruised to victory in Sunday's presidential runoff. Read full article
Socialist Michelle Bachelet, who was Chile's president from 2006 to 2010, cruised to victory in Sunday's presidential runoff. Read full article
Comments
Disclaimer & comment rulesIt's a shame the turnout ( 41% ) was so low but congratulations nonetheless Ms Bachelet. Perhaps in four years it will be Ms Matthei's turn.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 02:31 am - Link - Report abuse 0Congrats Michelle, LatAm integration on this road again.....
Dec 16th, 2013 - 02:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0Piñeira's protectorade policy over the squatters outtlaw people will suffer little but inexorable changes....lets see how deep goes :-)
Las Malvinas son Argentinas, everybody knows that
A few years ago:
Dec 16th, 2013 - 05:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0Michelle Bachelet said, “We not only support our sister republic's claims to the Malvinas islands but every year we present its case to the United Nations' Special Committee on Decolonization.”
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/02/23/falklands.argentina/
Congratulations señora Bachelet.
You have us confused with someone who gives a ferk!
Dec 16th, 2013 - 06:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Congratulations to her nevertheless.
The whole world and his dog knows that “ LOS FALKLANDS SON INGLES ”. Just get over it. Everyone knows that Bachelet will not be able to change things. I suspect that the FALKLANDERS have already thought out their options prior to Bachelet being elected. Thinking ahead has, and always been a Anglo trait, just suck it up.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 08:28 am - Link - Report abuse 0Congratulations to Michelle Bachelet. I think the poor turn-out was down to people believing she would win handsomely and she did.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 10:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0I have to point out to the Malvanistas that Bachelet has been President of Chile before - they probably are not aware of this - and the Falklands Islands remain British. Therefore their thought process is somewhat flawed.
# 4 & 5
Dec 16th, 2013 - 10:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0Easy boys... easy
The very small chilean people allowed as extraordinary cases to live in Malvinas for clean bathrooms and cook in Malvina House is the onky one card strong enough for keep few benefits from Chile gov to the usurped argentinian islands ..
So beter keep quiet and talk nicely.
@7 Let's try a couple of points. An air service is provided to the British Falkland Islands by LAN (Chile). Is Bachelet going to go beyond “socialism” to interfere with that? Is she going to forget who was next on argieland's hit list after the Falkland Islands?
Dec 16th, 2013 - 11:11 am - Link - Report abuse 0Next point. Have you got a list of all the states that “support” argieland? And the UK has shown itself to be “bovvered”? Right at this moment, Bachelet will be being watched to see what she says and how she acts. Chilean nationals in the Falkland Islands could find themselves going “home” long before they thought. With only what they can carry.
Bachelet, and you, should keep very quiet and talk very nicely. The United Kingdom has a very long history of maintaining and supplying its territories. And of winning against the odds. So while you're threatening, just remember that only one country has a chance of winning against the UK. And it is a friend of OURS.
Those like you are always the same. Big mouths, small balls.
Bachelet is a very intelligent woman and a role model for women in power. She has experience working at the UN, experienced in international politics and has seen the bigger picture.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 11:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0Pinera has been successful at business development for Chile, something that will benefit the country for many years to come. Bachelet is not going to abandon that route but will address the lack of social mobility in Chile. There is an aspirational generation that knows their country is successful but they have yet to reach their full potential. I hope Bachelet will break down some of the barriers.
As a visitor to Chile, the class structure is very apparent and perpetuated by the people that benefit from it. I move across all walks of life from the 'big' families who think they are living in the times of Downton Abbey where everyone should know their place, to the young ambitious Chileans from challenged backgrounds wanting to work hard and do more than live pay-day to pay-day.
There is no doubt that improved education will help to break down the social barriers but personally I think they should be focusing on improving education to 18, rather than bandy about the idea of free university education. I know many young Chileans from middle-class families with degrees that are still caught in the class system restricting their employment opportunities.
Pinera and Bachelet are slightly right or left of centre and there is absolutely no common ground of political ideals between Bachelet and CFK. I cannot think why supporters of CFK are excited about Bachelet's election unless they secretly covet the politics of Chile.
Just my opinion.
Sad days for Chile.....After being one of the supporters of the progressivism with the center right Gvt. of Mr. Piñera, saddenly we felt to the regression with thenext Mrs Bachelet leftist Gvt......our expectations now must be how and how long does it takes to reach levels of instability like Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela......
Dec 16th, 2013 - 11:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0For the Falklanders is not a good news, too.....the closer team of Bachelet is openly supporter of the Argentine claim, so no good days will come for the relationships between Chile and Falklands Islands....
This new Gvt. ......will it be what ALL the Chileans deserve as a future....??
I think NO.....there are a lot of Chileans that want a future where any citizen earn is own life with hard work, perseverance and saving......without the alms of the state to get housing, studying, health, etc., paid by the taxes of the few that are the supporters of the economy and society.....the middle class..
The only way to reach a developed level of life is to give the people the opportunity to develop its own capacities to undertake its own destiny, not to keep them under a blanket of alms and briberies so they become dependant forever from the politicians......But, the big temptations had won....the populism is a sharp sword that cut all kind of good principles with easy promises of all for free.....the famous “welfare state” that failed in Europe where is under revision and even coming back in some of the main principles.....because people prefers the state subventions instead to work....and the funds to hold this system are never enough making those countries big debtors form the banking system....and now the most of them are into bankruptcy.
As I said above, sad days for Chile for next years to come.....
@7
Dec 16th, 2013 - 12:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Dear,dear are you suggesting that the Chileans that are on the FALKLANDS are dwarfs?
# 11
Dec 16th, 2013 - 12:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No, you did
I just wrote 100% facts, check it out you lazzy brit
@10 I would not despair too much. Bachelet is not so far left of the centre as some would like to believe. Did she destroy the progress of Chile during her last term? No. Sure the economy did not develop as fast as under Pinera but he has laid some strong business foundations for the next few years.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 12:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I agree with you that Chileans should progress to success through individual hard work but when a system is stacked against the disadvantaged it doesn't matter how hard they work they will never progress.
I certainly hope some of the crazy employment laws get an overhaul. I will not help Chile progress as a country when people job-hop every few months for an extra $10.
@12 so_far from the truth
Dec 16th, 2013 - 01:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You did actually say - “The very small chilean people”
No one has forced anyone from Chile to move to the Falkland Islands, they are there at there own choice no matter what job it is that they do and what right have you to denigrate a person for the job they do.
The fact that not everyone hates the Falkland Islanders and the British in the childish way that you do really upsets you !
@ 13 ElaineB
Dec 16th, 2013 - 01:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Just like a lot of people used to do in the UK before The Blessed Margarest stuffed the unions.
@8 Conq
Dec 16th, 2013 - 01:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You are way off target.
Firstly, Bachelet's election has no impact on the status quo in the FI.
Secondly:
“Bachelet, and you, should keep very quiet and talk very nicely”
In foreign affairs Bachelet should act according to Chile's best national interest and I expect she will do. You might remember the last time there was any “quiet and nice” talk between our leaders was prior to the US invasion of Iraq when Tony Blair flew to meet Ricardo Lagos to get our crucial vote on the security council. Ricardo Lagos didn't seem too bothered about the all this leverage that exists in your head. He quite rightly told Blair “No”. How many Brits wish Blair had told Bush “no”?
“The United Kingdom has a very long history of maintaining and supplying its territories. And of winning against the odds.”
Yes, so does Chile, a 100% record in fact.
@9 Elaine
I agree (still not with you on the “job-hopping”).
@10 Sergio
I am much more optimistic.
The last time Bachelet was in power, the Concertación acted with a degree of arrogance on some issues (like Bachelet not giving 1 peso to the protesting students). Since they lost in 2010 they know we are in a new political phase and they will have to be more responsive to the public. The public is now much more demanding and Piñera has left the bar very high for Bachelet. She is going to have to work hard.
@15 I can't really see the comparison. There is far more social mobility in the UK now than in the 70's, far more individual wealth, far more opportunity and a general higher standard of living.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 01:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0@7&12
Dec 16th, 2013 - 02:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0You were the one to mention “ The very small Chilean people ”. As pointed out by Leiard @14. I am sorry that your mother tongue is not English, but you should have said “ the very few Chilean people” then us ignorant Brits would understand you. Try google translate you LAZY GIT
11 & 14 @ You´r right......he said that. Chileans working in Falklands are there by their own will because they earn good money, live a better life and are respected no matter the work they are doing.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 02:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 013 @ Elaine, you must count that the new coalition the left formed to this election includes the extreme left as the Communist Party, the MAS Party, etc., so this new Gvt. will not be like the former....And, when she was at the office, the economy was too weak just for bad management not for international crisis.
When the Concertacion alliance started its terms thanks to the high levels left by the Minister Büchi we had some years of economy continuity but the Minister Aninat during the Frei administration take care to destroy it with the worst measures he can choose.
Last terms of the Concertacion Gvts. were softened by a strong position from the DC Party but now the extreme left had the ball in its hands so the position of Bachellet will be harder than before.....
To improve the condition of the poorest there is only one way.....more and better employment which means less and lower taxes to help competiveness....extra bonus and alms are just bread for today and famine for tomorrow....never will help to improve the Chilean society. The job-hop for extra money is a good practice to reach better position in a growing economy....
@19 Interesting comments.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 03:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0“The job-hop for extra money is a good practice to reach better position in a growing economy.” I absolutely do not agree with this. For an economy to grow employers need to have reliable staff. Currently an employee can call up and announce they are leaving that day, that minute, without consequence. How can anyone run a small business? And small business is where people have a chance to break through social barriers.
I was astonished at the number of people I spoke with on my last visit that had changed jobs 4 or 5 times in the previous 12 months, always for little gain and no real improvement. It is an unhealthy trend. They were not climbing anywhere but moving sideways for a few dollars more.
@16 It is mainly in the central region that this is a growing trend. Speak to employers there. And speak to the job-hoppers who gain virtually nothing but change jobs because they can. Ask them what they gain from doing so and they are hard pushed to come up with an answer. Would it really hurt anyone for them to work the notice in their contract?
@ 20 ElaineB
Dec 16th, 2013 - 03:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Sorry if my cryptic post misled you, but job-hopping for no real advantage was rife, I once had a guy apply for a job in an engineering company I was a senior manager of that was only £5/week more than he was getting.
His answer to the inevitable question was “well, if I see a job with another £5 rise I will be £10 better off then. He didn’t get the job.
The movement you refer to in 17 also comes with costs:
1) more time travelling;
2) increased risk of severe injury from road smashes (they are NOT accidents, somebody causes them);
3) less money due to travel costs just to get a job (than if they managed to get a job near home);
4) less time with the family and YOU know all about that, don’t you, I know I did?
#19 nobody cares the reason why few chileans choose Malvinas for live....glad for them if they live better.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 04:15 pm - Link - Report abuse 0i only describe the qualify jobs british squatters living in argentinean soil offers to them....keep on focus, no seas huevon.
@20 Elaine
Dec 16th, 2013 - 04:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I dont see the job-hopping you refer to and it doesn't add up to me.
The job market is flexible and that is good, but there is no point in changing job for little reward. For a start in most cases you lose your holiday entitlement. In Chile you earn the right to take holiday leave after you complete a year of work, so if you change job once a year you will never have any holidays.
For a low paid worker earning CLP 300.000 / month changing to a job that pays $350.000 is a large increase. I think you could be underestimating the significance of (what seems like) a small increase in pay on the household budget on a poor family. Or it could be a case of disgruntled employers blaming their own failure to retain employees on the employees.
“Would it really hurt anyone for them to work the notice in their contract?” - well in the answer to that question you will find a facet of our national identity - if you can't make someone do something, they won't do it.
@23 I have seen it from both sides and spoken to a number of people that do it. My sample was pretty wide spread but all in the 'white-collar' job market.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 04:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I completely agree with your point of view that they lose more then they gain by job-hopping but none seemed to see any real benefit from loyalty and stability of staying with an employer. Often they had no gripe and even liked their job. None seemed to think of discussing with their employer to see if they could negotiate a pay rise.
The holiday entitlement was not even a factor of consideration when they can take days off without licence or consequence. Up to two days per month.
I did factor in the difference in incomes and cost of living.
““Would it really hurt anyone for them to work the notice in their contract?” - well in the answer to that question you will find a facet of our national identity - if you can't make someone do something, they won't do it.” I written contract should be enough to make someone adhere to it.
I have great sympathy for the workers in Chile that have been under paid for years and welcome the laws that now protect them. But they do themselves no favours by exploiting the situation of low unemployment. When times get tough, and inevitably economies run in cycles, their lack of loyalty and reliability could come back to bite them.
@16 Didn't like Saddam. Didn't like him murdering Kurds with chemical weapons. Didn't like him invading Kuwait and what he did there. Didn't like him taking “human shields”. Don't care what other Brits “thought” or the red herring of WMD. He needed to be stopped. Glad we went. Wish we'd been able to send more. More ships, more aircraft, more artillery, more tanks, more troops. Still, we proved that the Challenger 2 IS the world's very best main battle tank.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 04:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Don't where you get your thought about “leverage”. What I said was that we ain't bovvered. Oh, and the United States is our friend. If you look back for 68 years, you'll find that the US always wants the UK to go with them. We know it as “holding their hand”. Even Blair had to continually “interpret” what Bush said in order to get the correct information across.
Good for Chile! And just how many enemies have you “faced”? “During its history, British forces or forces with a British mandate have invaded, had some control over or fought conflicts in 171 of the world's 193 countries that are currently UN member states, or nine out of ten of all countries”. Can Chile say that? As I said, there is only ONE country that MIGHT be able to beat us. But we've fought it to a standstill before now. Even if it did have to have French and Spanish assistance! Oh, and Britain fought at the end of a 3,500 mile supply chain. See why the Falklands wasn't really a problem?
Here's another thought. Argieland could never have beaten Britain. But suppose the argies broke off attacks on the Falklands and changed their target to Chile. After all, whilst they take those islands in the Beagle Channel, might as well take the rest of Chile. Remember that, as far as argies are concerned, latam integration only works one way!
@24 Elaine
Dec 16th, 2013 - 06:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The 2 days a month you refer to are not established in law. Public employees can take 6 paid “administrative” days per year. Some private companies offer a similar arrangement in contract, but in normal circumstances notice is always required to take leave of any kind.
I am perplexed at your idea that people change job so readily. I know no one who would change a job without a good reason.
@25 Conq
I didn't like Saddam either, but that is not the point. I don't like Maduro, Mugabe, Kim-Jong-whatever, etc.
Chile has fought in few wars because we have no imperial pretensions. The wars we have fought, we have won, from deadbeat Bolivia to the Spanish empire. As you know your military history, you will know that British military incursion on the American continent were far from successful, from New Orleans to Buenos Aires they were unmitigated disasters.
You say that Bachelet “should keep very quiet and talk very nicely” - I am saying that Bachelet will do no such thing, she should and will act in the national interest and that has little or nothing to do with the UK or the FI.
#18 all right, glad you understand me anyway.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0i´ll think about your advice, thanks.
@26 “I am perplexed at your idea that people change job so readily. I know no one who would change a job without a good reason”.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 06:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0It is not my idea, I am just stating something I was made aware of during my last two month visit. I challenged it at first but the theme continued so I spent some time looking into the problem. It is very much a recent trend and particular to the under 30's age range. Believe me when I say I am not making it up. It is a very real problem.
I completely accept that you know of no one that would change jobs without good reason but I met many that did. And I am not talking about seasonal workers that leave factory packing jobs for the wine harvesting and short-term higher wages - who could blame them.
As one large international employer told me, it is a problem that has become particular to Chile in recent times and is a cultural problem they have to work with. It stings when they spend six months training someone and offer the security and perks of a long-term contract only to have someone call in half an hour before they are due to start work one day and announce they have left.
It is not really a part of the work I was doing but it was interesting that, unprompted, it became a recurrent theme. Just sayin'.
@28
Dec 16th, 2013 - 08:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I didn't mean to suggest you were making it up. The reason I say “perplexed” is because you clearly understand a lot of what goes on in Chile, but on this issue I've not seen or heard of the phenomenon you mention - that could just be me up here in sleepy Elqui - or it could be the employers' HR departments falling behind the curve and simply not offering enough to keep good employees.
In recent years there has been a tendency for the mining industry to pull people away from other industries and that has knock on effects.
In a country with essentially no welfare safety net, a job with a good company is treasured and people will pull all the strings they can and jump through all the hoops required to get an indefinite contract with a good company....still perplexed at the idea of people changing jobs without a better deal in the bag. I would be interested to hear what The Chilean Perspective (Santiago) and Sergio (PUQ) think.
@29 No, I wasn't offended I was enjoying the discussion. : ) Yes, I too thought it a crazy approach to employment.
Dec 16th, 2013 - 09:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0I loved my time in the Elqui Valley albeit a brief social visit. I should get back there.
@30 Elaine
Dec 16th, 2013 - 09:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Glad you liked the Elqui Valley, it is a beautiful place. If you have a few days it is worth driving all the way up to Alcohuaz for a night then driving over the Antakari route to Limari, then back via the coast to La Serena.
One little known, new, surprising and worthwhile stop on the way up the valley is the Guayacan brewery in the village of Diaguitas which makes the most delicious Stout!
Elaine, I have heard some about job-hop in Chile and I have suffered about it in the company I work for in managing position. As we start with a high unemployment rate as an heritage from Bachellet, with the improvement of the economy lots of new jobs have appeared in the market, mainly in the mining sector at the North Chile lifting the workers from others areas with lower salaries and benefits which developed a chain of jobs and social mobility.....It has been good, very good indeed, raising the average pay rates as never we have seen before......It have meant that, even the illegal immigration from the neighbours and not too neighbours countries by thousands, the unemployment rate has decreased to the best levels in years....fortunately, as the unions were limited by labour laws from Pinochet´times they couldn´t counterattack that jobs mobility with their dirty practices with political goals.....As well as too many others I have been benefited negotiating with my employer for better incomes and benefits and also I have had to negotiate with my workers to keep them with us and in some cases we have lost good trained people because better offers from other companies that we can´t pay. All people I know or heard that have changed jobs have been for 3 mean reason; a lot more money and benefits, jobs that match better with their skills (specially professionals) or just better environmental work conditions....nobody changed just “ money by money”.....
Dec 17th, 2013 - 12:29 am - Link - Report abuse 0Condorito, I´m too less positive respect the new Gvt. performance as it is far more leftist than the former Concertacion and the DC Party have less influence to balance the PC Party and other from extreme left. Its program offered will push too much the Chilean society & economy to keep them growing like the last 4 years....all their policies are strictly regressive even their wrongly call themselves as “progressives”....Foreign policies won´t be in support of Falklanders as they are known as LA integrationist.....Sorry.
Don't be sorry. That's great news!
Dec 17th, 2013 - 01:21 am - Link - Report abuse 033@ I insist....sorry, man....!!!
Dec 18th, 2013 - 12:08 am - Link - Report abuse 0I don´t want any integration with countries like Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Cuba.....Chile must be neutral in problems between other states, like Argentina and Falklands Islands......
Better alone that with bad companions.......!!!
The majority of our Chilean brothers and sisters seem to want something else than you...
Dec 18th, 2013 - 12:55 am - Link - Report abuse 0Isn't democracy beautiful, Sergio?
@Stevie
Dec 18th, 2013 - 01:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Off target as always. Sergio is correct. The majority of Chileans do not want integration with Venezuela, Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Cuba etc, neither do our leaders, hence it is not on any political agenda.
@ 35 Stevie
Dec 18th, 2013 - 04:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Oh dear! NO Chilean brothers and sisters for your “Glorious Continent Of Brotherly Love” then!
Of course the only one who sees TGCOBL as an asset is you! Ha, ha, ha.
Never mind The Mouse is your brother. Actually, come to think of it, he could be your DAD!
What are you talking about? Did you hear Bachelet?
Dec 18th, 2013 - 05:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0Major upcoming changes in our beloved Chile.
Enjoy!
Stevie,
Dec 18th, 2013 - 06:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0The changes she is referring to are domestic issues, like education.
And yes, with 4 children in education I will enjoy!
I bet you voted for Bachelet then...
Dec 18th, 2013 - 07:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0;)
@40
Dec 18th, 2013 - 09:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0No I didn't. I am not strongly opposed to her, I just think we can do better.
On the education issue I want to see more equality. What Bachelet proposes means the 95% of Chileans who earn less than I do will pay for my childrens' education. Most of their children won't meet the entry requirement to get in to the best universities.
My children, my neighbor's children, my children's class mates will go to university paid for by the taxes of those whose children can't get to university. That's “free” education.
“Free” education will save me approx USD 200,000 over the next 20 years. I won't look that gift horse in the teeth, but I am sure you can understand that it is just wrong and completely the opposite of what those who want (and need) “free” education really want.
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