Michelle Bachelet: The next elections "are going to be very close"

SANTIAGO.- The latest CEP poll, the creation of the National Institute for Human Rights and health were just some of the topics analyzed by President Michelle Bachelet this morning while she spoke about the performance of her administration and shared the agenda for 2009.

With regards to the latest CEP poll, which singled out Sebastián Piñera as the candidate with the most leadership and Eduardo Frei (DC) as the best candidate for the left wing, the President pointed out that the upcoming elections will be very close.

"(The next elections) are going to be very close, but I am certain that in 2009 we will soon have clear candidates from the Concertación and we'll see how things go", stated the President.

While referring to the debate surrounding the creation of the National Institute for Human Rights, the President declared that it is an initiative she had taken on with the deceased former head of the Chamber of Deputies, Juan Bustos.

"There are organizations that want (the Institute to have) more (taxes).  I have an obligation to the nation and that obligation requires a culture of human rights and requires autonomy from the government (...) that is the idea behind the Institute", stated the President while also insisting that she would not revoke the urgent classification of the project.