Chile elections give warning to Bachelet coalition
With 95 percent of ballots counted late Sunday, four opposition parties were winning about 40 percent of mayoral votes nationwide and picked up mayors in some of Chile’s largest cities, including the capital of Santiago.
Lunes 27 de Octubre de 2008
00:01
AP
SANTIAGO.- Chile’s conservative opposition collected a string of surprise wins in municipal elections across the country Sunday, delivering a blow to left-leaning President Michele Bachelet as her party heads into next year’s presidential race.
With 95 percent of ballots counted late Sunday, four opposition parties were winning about 40 percent of mayoral votes nationwide and picked up mayors in some of Chile’s largest cities, including the capital of Santiago. Bachelet’s center-left coalition was winning about 38 percent.
The tally was reversed in separate votes for city councils, as Bachelet’s coalition led with 45 percent of votes to 35 percent for her opponents. A host of smaller parties picked up the difference in both contests.
Chile’s election authority declares winners in individual elections but also pools the votes together to tally each party’s support nationwide, a popular barometer of political strength.
Analysts say voters are unhappy about rising crime, inflation and a series of high profile government corruption cases, along with the capital’s overextended transportation system.
Bachelet called her coalition’s success in council races proof that it is “the nation’s primary political force.” But she also urged it to unite and work harder.
“We have to listen to the voice of the people and give our political action a new dynamic,” she said in a televised address.
Opposition leaders called the results a sign that their conservative alliance is poised to win the presidency next year.
“People have voted for change,” said newly elected Santiago Mayor Pablo Zalaquet.
Four years ago, when Bachelet was defense minister, her coalition won 45 percent of mayoral votes and 47 percent of city council votes.
