Chileans vote in fiercely contested presidential election

Sebastian Pinera (center), a former Chilean president running for reelection

Chileans voters are deciding whether to swing the world’s top copper-producing country to the right or maintain its center-left path in a fiercely contested presidential runoff election.

Billionaire Sebastian Pinera once looked set to easily win Chile’s presidential runoff and swing the country back to the right. Now, the election’s outcome is so uncertain analysts say the nation could remain on its center-left path.

The election was thrown into uncertainty after the billionaire businessman obtained a lower-than-expected turnout in November’s first round of voting. He faces journalist and center-left Sen. Alejandro Guillier, who has been buoyed by support from Chile’s hard left.

Chile has been hit by lower international prices and demand for copper, which is the backbone of its economy. The economic slowdown and disenchantment by Chileans who feel that President Michelle Bachelet wavered on her promises of profound social changes in labor and education initially helped Pinera, who ended his 2010-2014 term with a poor popularity rating.

Polls are banned in the weeks ahead of the election but analysts say that based on the last polls released and trends seen, it appears the race is now up for grabs.

“What it is showing, though, is that there’s practically a tie between the two of them,” said Javier Sajuria, a lecturer in politics at Queen Mary University of London.

Pinera oversaw annual economic growth averaging 5.3 percent during his first term. But the 68-year-
old conservative struggled to deal with massive protests over inequality and education rights and left office with low popularity ratings.

He now proposes slashing taxes on business to revive growth and vows to launch a USD14 billion, four-year spending plan that includes fresh investments in infrastructure.

Guillier promises to continue Bachelet’s plan to increase corporate taxes to partly finance an education overhaul, reform the constitution and improve the pension and health care system. He also wants to diversify Chile’s copper-dependent economy and develop alternative sources of energy to lower investment costs.

“Since [Guillier] is not very popular, he has tried to turn the election into a referendum on Pinera. As a former president, Pinera has high negatives,” said political scientist Patricio Navia of New York University.

In recent weeks the race has polarized, with Pinera comparing Guillier to Nicolas Maduro, the president of crisis-riddled Venezuela, a scare tactic that seems to have backfired. MDT/AP