Vidal: Government will consult "with all candidates" before changing election date

SANTIAGO.- The Minister of the Presidency, Francisco Vidal, has come forward following statements made by Presidential Secretary General José Antonio Viera-Gallo, stating that La Moneda has still not decided whether or not to maintain the date of the presidential elections or heed to the request made by a group of Parliament members asking that they be earlier, in November.

"What matters here is what the President of the Republic says. As long as the President of the Republic is not in agreement with the measure, there is no official governmental stance. There are only partial, sector opinions", stated Vidal following a statement made yesterday by Minister Viera-Gallo indicating that it would be difficult for the Executive Branch to rush the bill to hold the elections one month earlier due to the fact that "it is not good to change the rules of the game after the presidential campaigns have already been launched".

Furthermore, Vidal stressed that DC candidate Eduardo Frei would not be the only one consulted with on the matter.

"If we have to inform someone, we are going to inform the entire country and we are going to ask for the opinions of all candidates", he stated, mentioning the long list of presidential hopefuls that are currently campaigning within various political channels.