It will come as no surprise to Chileans that some of the country’s biggest companies — and richest families — have donated millions of dollars to presidential and parliamentary campaigns this election season. However, until an investigative report was published last week, people were only able to speculate on the matter, as a law passed in 2003 allows donors and donations to remain completely anonymous.
On the brink of Chile's presidential elections, 17 November, US business magazine Forbes has published an article warning voters that electing Michelle Bachelet of the Socialist Party (PS) would put an end to the Chilean “economic miracle.”
Chile's ruling-party candidate Evelyn Matthei said she is “embarrassed” by the “poll festival” that shows opposition candidate Michelle Bachelet as the clear front-runner ahead of the country’s November 17 presidential election. Several polls have shown former president Bachelet could have enough votes to win in the first round of voting.
Chilean presidential candidate for the ruling party Evelyn Matthei was the target of her competitors’ criticism during a televised debate in which she brushed aside hopefuls’ aspirations arguing that it was obvious that the race was between her and Michelle Bachelet, who did not participate.
Former president and opposition candidate Michelle Bachelet, as well as Evelyn Matthei, candidate of the conservative ruling coalition for the coming 17 November elections coincided in describing the death of retired general Odlanier Mena Salinas who killed himself as ‘tragic’.
The Chilean government plans to raise spending 3.9% next year, the second-smallest increase since 2003 and below the central bank’s forecast for economic growth in 2014. The budget will focus on employment, education, crime, poverty, children, pensioners and infrastructure, President Sebastian Piñera said in a televised address without giving details.
Chile's presidential frontrunner Michelle Bachelet says she is studying possible changes to mining policy in the world's top copper producing country. The possible changes include altering mining royalties and funding programs for state-owned mining company Codelco.
Chilean president Sebastián Piñera defended the need for an only candidate in the ruling coalition for the coming presidential election of November and considered it should be a woman, suggesting the name of Labour minister Evelyn Matthei.
Chilean conservative presidential candidate Pablo Longueira unexpectedly quit his campaign due to depression, his son said, dealing another blow to an already weakened right-wing bloc four months from the general election.