The Chilean Senate is debating a bill whether to make voting in national elections mandatory, a highly controversial issue since lawmakers of the ruling coalition are against the initiative while the opposition insists in approving it to increase the participation percentage.
Chile's Progressive Party (PRO) leader Marco Enríquez Ominami Monday announced he would run for the country's presidency, which dealt an unexpected blow to the centre-left's efforts following the launch of Christian Democrat Yasna Provoste's candidacy Saturday.
Chilean opposition registered its candidates at the Electoral Service for the coming municipal elections in October but was unable to reach an overall agreement to face the ruling conservative parties.