Elections
10 Abril 2006
Presidential and Congressional elections will be held in December 2005. On March 22, negotiators from the main three parties in the Concertación (left-wing coalition), the Christian Democrats (DC), the Socialist Party (PS) and the Partido por la Democracia (PPD), agreed to hold a national primary on July 31 to decide as to who, between Michelle Bachelet (PS-PPD) and Soledad Alvear (DC), would run for the Presidency with the leftwing coalition's backing. Nontheless, Mrs. Alvear declined her postulation the third week of May, remaining Bachelet as the only candidate of the Concertación.
Bachelet was formerly Chile’s former Defense Minister (and Health Minister previously), and Alvear was its Foreign Relations Minister, who led FTA negotiations with the EU and U.S. and formerly Justice Minister during previous government. The only live televised debate between the two candidates was held on April 27th.
The right-wing coalition, Alianza por Chile, consists of the National Renovation (RN) and Independent Democratic Union (UDI) parties. Its candidate is again Joaquín Lavín, who ran against current President Ricardo Lagos in 1999. In mid may, though, the National Renovation party held its “Consejo Nacional” which nominted Sebastián Piñera their presidential candidate. Mr. Piñera in a well known entrepeneur and ex congressman. Therefore, the Alianza has actually two presidential candidates. According to recent polls known as of april 2005 they would be defeated by the Concertation candidate if the elections where today, but the new scenario can change this situation.
Source: Research Department, AmCham
Mayo 2005