Socialist Michelle Bachelet Wins Chile’s Presidential Elections by Wide Margin

Ex-president Michelle Bachelet of the left-wing party easily emerged as winner in the just concluded presidential elections in Chile. Bachelet defeated Evelyn Matthei, former minister and member of the ruling center-right coalition. The second-time president garnered 62% of the votes against her opponent’s 38%. She governed from 2006 to 2010 but was disqualified by operation of law to seek another consecutive term.

Much applauded

Upon her declaration as winner, Bachelet, 62, made a personal appearance from the coalition headquarters in Santiago where overjoyed people gave her a loud applause. Hundreds of women as well as members of the gay and lesbian groups and environmental advocates who comprised her support groups cheered the elected president. In her address, Bachelet reiterated her action point of directing significant reforms in Chile. She said that the country needed change and she guaranteed Chileans that her administration would be based on trust and responsibility.

Unity and strength

Bachelet likewise encouraged the people from her coalition to unite so that the dream of her government would materialize. She also pointed out that if the people would believe in themselves and in the power of unity, the country would certainly attain progress and peace. The newly elected president expressed her gratitude to those who supported her. She said she takes pride in being the president-elect of Chile. “I am proud of the country we’ve built but I am even more proud of the country we will build,” Bachelet told the people.

Matthei concedes

The president-elect is the first Chile ruler to be elected twice since the military reign of General Augusto Pinochet who governed the country from 1973 to 1990. Evelyn Matthei, her 60-year old opponent, conceded loss and personally extended good wishes to Bachelet. The teary eyed former minister told her supporters that she was extending her sincere well wishes for the success of Bachelet’s government. Matthei said that anyone with love and patriotism for Chile would want the best for the country. On the other hand Bachelet thanked her rival for her congratulatory message. She told the press that both she and Matthei love their homeland and they are always willing to be of service to the people.

Alliance parties

The president-elect, a pediatrician by profession, also secured victory in the initial round of voting on November 17, although not by a landslide margin. She heads the allied parties of her own Socialist Party, Christian Democrat and Communist groups. Her campaign platform was hugely based on policies intended to uplift the conditions of the poor and correct the imbalance between wealth and poverty.

Childhood neighbors

The two political rivals grew up in the same neighborhood and were even playmates during their childhood in the 1950s. Both their fathers were air force generals working in the airbase. Alberto, Bachelet’s father, worked with the Socialist administration that was won over by General Pinochet when he staged a coup in 1973. Fernando, Matthei’s father, attended military school from where he rose to ranks. Bachelet’s father died in prison apparently of heart failure aggravated by the torture inflicted on him by the military. Just this year, General Matthei was cleared from accusations that he had a part in the torture.

Rich country

In Latin America, Chile is one of the wealthiest nations, however the people are demanding for a larger scale wealth distribution. They also clamor for improvements in the educational system. Bachelet, as incoming president, intends to hike taxes so that more students will be able to avail of free college education. She also aims to overhaul the political and economic organizations of Chile. Accordingly, the present economic and political systems in the country still date back from the time of General Pinochet’s dictatorship. Meanwhile, she wants to carry out the strategies of outgoing President Sebastian Pinera in as much as many of the present policies have helped improve Chile over the period when he ruled the country.

Photo Credit: Michelle Bachelet