Chilean presidential election, 2009
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The Chilean presidential election of 2009 is scheduled by law to take place on Friday December 11, 2009. The election will determine the successor to Michelle Bachelet. The winner will be sworn in on March 11, 2010.
Chilean politics are dominated by two main coalitions: the center-left Coalition of Parties for Democracy (Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia), composed of the Christian Democrat Party, the Socialist Party, the Party for Democracy, and the Social Democrat Radical Party; and the center-right Alliance for Chile (Alianza por Chile), composed of the Independent Democrat Union and National Renewal. The extreme-left Juntos Podemos Más pact, made up of the Communist and Humanist parties, has no representatives in Congress and is considered to have almost no chances of winning the presidency.
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[edit] Concertación candidates
The Concertación is expected to stage a primary to bring forward a single coalition candidate.
| These have already announced their pre-candidacies. | |
|---|---|
| Jorge Arrate (PS) |
Arrate is a member of the more leftist faction of the PS and has been mentioned as a potential candidate in an alliance of this faction and the Juntos Podemos Más pact. He formally announced his candidacy on January 27, 2008, pressured by a group of socialists opposed to the Socialist Party leadership[1].
Political résumé:
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| José Antonio Gómez (PRSD) |
Gómez has campaigned for the right of his party, the smallest in the coalition, to bring a candidate at least to the primaries. In September 2006, the party's General Council proclaimed him the Radical nominee to the presidency, a decision confirmed in February 2007.[2]. In an interview with El Mercurio de Calama newspaper, Gómez said that he would participate, but warned against early campaigning, saying it would hurt Michelle Bachelet's presidency[3]. During his campaign for reelection as the party chairman, Gómez emphasized his future candidacy to the Chilean presidency, a position criticized by his opponent[4]. Gómez won reelection by an ample margin, strengthening his future presidential campaign.
Political résumé:
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| Alejandro Navarro (PS) |
Navarro has characterized himself as a leader in the "dissident" faction of the Socialist Party, which harshly criticizes what they call the "neoliberal" economic model and supports Hugo Chávez and Fidel Castro. Despite his involvement in a scandal due to his participation in a recent protest organized by the Unitary Workers Central where he attacked a policeman and the possibility of being expelled from the Senate, Navarro has already declared himself to be a presidential candidate for 2008.
Political résumé:
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| Marcelo Trivelli (PDC) |
Trivelli participated in Soledad Alvear's failed 2005 campaign for the Concertación presidential nomination. He had been mentioned as the possible PDC candidate to the mayorship of the Santiago municipality for the 2008 elections. In June 10, 2007, however, he surprised everyone by announcing his candidacy to the presidency in a television program. Despite his lack of a support base, he declared himself the candidate of "honesty and sincerity" and respect towards the Constitution.[5] Trivelli received heavy criticism from his own party because of his decision to run, and many party members declared it was not the appropriate time for candidacies.[6] Trivelli has embarked on a number of trips around the country in order to create enough support to sustain his candidacy.[7]
Political résumé:
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| These are potential pre-candidates | |
 Soledad Alvear (PDC) |
Alvear was the PDC nominee for the presidency in 2005, but stepped down and supported the victorious Michelle Bachelet. She then obtained a seat in the Senate. She was also elected president of her party in 2006. She has been constantly mentioned as a potential contender in 2009 ever since she resigned from her candidacy in favor of Bachelet. Her supporters, the alvearistas, control most of the PDC institutions and she commands widespread support in the party, despite the vocal opposition of fellow Senator Adolfo Zaldívar. She has not yet announced her candidacy, saying it is too early in the race. On December 6, 2007, she was unofficially proclaimed a presidential candidate by Christian Democrat deputy Pablo Lorenzini [8]
Political résumé:
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 Sergio Bitar (PPD) |
Bitar participated in Salvador Allende's government and was later imprisoned by the military government. After his release, he left the country. He returned in 1985 and joined the Party for Democracy, occupying various posts within the party before being elected party president in 1992. He was a member of Michelle Bachelet's presidential campaign. Despite his controversial actions in the 2006 corruption scandals, Bitar is still an important player in Chilean politics. In a May 4, 2007 interview with La Tercera, Bitar said he was willing to be his party's presidential nominee if there was enough support. José Miguel Insulza also mentioned Bitar as a potential candidate.[9] Bitar, however, has not actively pursued the candidacy yet.
Political résumé:
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| Nicolás Eyzaguirre (PPD) |
Eyzaguirre is an economist who participated in various financial institutions and banks before Ricardo Lagos appointed him to lead the Ministry of Finance. He kept this post throughout Lagos' presidency, becoming the longest-serving Finance Minister in Chilean history. He actively participated in Michelle Bachelet's campaign but was not included in her cabinet. Because of his high popularity some have mentioned him as a possible presidential contender, and he has said that he could participate if Lagos declines to.
Political résumé:
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 Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (PDC) |
Frei Ruiz-Tagle is the son of former president Eduardo Frei Montalva. In 1993, he was elected to the Chilean presidency with one of the highest percentages in history. During his six-year presidency, however, his presidency faltered because of economic troubles. He became a senator-for-life as the Constitution then dictated, but when constitutional reforms ended this privilege, he was elected senator in his own right. He still commands a significant following in the PDC and his name has been frequently mentioned as a potential candidate. Frei Ruiz-Tagle has declared it is yet too early to announce candidacies, but has not discarded this possibility.
Political résumé:
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 José Miguel Insulza (PS) |
Insulza is an influential figure in the Chilean political scene, arousing controversy almost every time he visits the country. Although he declared his intention to finish his term as OAS secretary-general, which ends in 2010, he was refused to directly preclude the possibility of a presidential candidacy. Most recently, the president of the PS, Camilo Escalona, controversially declared his support for Insulza to the presidency in an interview with El Mercurio. Escalona's comments were heavily criticized by other Socialists, who have declared that the whole party must come to an agreement regarding which candidate to support.
Political résumé:
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.jpg/100px-Ricardo_Lagos_despedida_(cropped).jpg) Ricardo Lagos (PPD/PS) |
Lagos' government was highly popular and his term ended with approval ratings around 60-70%. Various supporters urged him to run again in 2009. However, his popularity has lately seen a sharp fall due to the catastrophic new transport system (Transantiago), planned under his presidency. Lagos has declared all doors are open to him, but has refused to confirm whether he will participate. In March 2008, he said it was unbecoming as a former head of state to participate in a primary and would refuse to do so.[10]
Political résumé:
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[edit] Alianza candidates
Both Alianza parties are expected to present their own candidate to the first round, and together support the one that reaches a runoff election.
| These are potential candidates | |
|---|---|
 Joaquín Lavín (UDI) |
Lavín earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Chicago. Afterwards, in 1992, Lavín was elected mayor of Las Condes, a stronghold of the right, with 31% of the vote and reelected in 1997 with 78% of the vote. Lavín was the presidential candidate for the UDI-RN coalition Alliance for Chile in the 1999 election. He eventually lost to PS/PPD candidate Ricardo Lagos in a runoff by 200,000 votes. Lavín again represented UDI in the 2005 presidential election, but ended in third place with 23.23% of the vote, due the presence of another right-wing candidate in the race, Sebastián Piñera, who made it to the runoff election with 25.41% of the vote. Pablo Longeira has urged him to run for a thirth time for the presidential elections, but he has refused and may end up running for a senate seat in the Valparaíso Region.[11]
Political résumé:
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| Evelyn Matthei (UDI) |
Matthei is the daughter of Air Force General Fernando Matthei, a member of the military junta that took power in the 1973 coup. She was a member of National Renewal, but in 1992 was embroiled in a a conflict with Sebastián Piñera, ending with her leaving the party and joining the UDI. She has been mentioned as a potential UDI candidate, considering she is among the leading proponents of having the UDI bring its own candidate to the first round. She has said it would be "fun" to compete against Piñera. She has not yet officially announced her candidacy.
Political résumé:
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_hoch.jpg/100px-Debate_televisivo_Canal_13_CNN_(Piñera)_hoch.jpg) Sebastián Piñera (RN) |
Piñera participated in Hernán Büchi's 1989 presidential campaign and was later elected to the Senate. He was a potential presidential nominee in 1993, but his chances were ruined by a conflict with Evelyn Matthei that came to be known as Piñeragate. In 1999 he again attempted to be the nominee, but was defeated in the convention by Joaquín Lavín. In 2005 he shook the political scene by jumping into the first round independently of the UDI. He has hinted that he will again participate in 2009 but says it is too early in the race to officially begin the campaign. Polls show him winning or at least tied with every potential Concertación contender.
Political résumé:
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Have declined the nomination
- Hernán Büchi (UDI): A possible candidacy by the 1990 presidential candidate generated buzz within the UDI in June 2007. He has however declined a candidacy.
- Hernán Larraín (UDI), President of his party
- Pablo Longueira (UDI), the senator officially launched his candidacy on March 30, 2007. He had announced his plans before the 2005 election took place. He stepped down "momentarily" due to "low party support" on May 3, 2007.[12]
- Jacqueline van Rysselberghe (UDI), the mayor of Concepción was proclaimed, on October 11, 2006, as candidate by five UDI deputies from the Biobío Region. She has refused to campaign for the nomination, however, preferring to concentrate on her 2008 campaign for reelection as mayor.
[edit] Juntos Podemos Más candidates
| These are potential candidates | |
|---|---|
 Tomás Hirsch (PH) |
Hirsch was among the founders of the Humanist Party and vied unsuccessfully for seats in the Chamber of Deputies as part of the Concertación. In 1993, the PH broke off from the coalition. In 1999 he was the Humanist presidential candidate, but lost in the first round. In 2005, he again participated in the presidential campaign, now with the additional support of the communists. He garnered a little over 5% of the vote. In an interview with Biobío Radio in September 1, 2007, Hirsch criticized the Concertación and the Alianza and declared that he would he "happy to be a candidate" if the members of his coalition agree.[13] On June 7, 2008 he announced he intends to run for the presidency for the third time as the PH candidate, under the Juntos Podemos umbrella.[14]
Political résumé:
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[edit] Other candidates
| These are potential candidates | |
|---|---|
| Fernando Flores (independent) |
Fernando Flores, the former minister of Salvador Allende and current senator launched a failed presidential bid for the 2005 election. He resigned from the PPD in early 2007 and launched a new party, Chile Primero, which has yet to be legalized. Flores has not publicly announced any presidential ambitions yet.
Political résumé:
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| Adolfo Zaldívar (independent) |
Adolfo Zaldívar, the former president of the PDC and current senator lost the last internal PDC primary to Alvear. He is the brother of former senator and former Interior Minister Andrés Zaldívar. He was expelled from the PDC in December 2007.
Political résumé:
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| Aucán Huilcamán (independent) |
Huilcamán is the leader ("werkén") of the indigenous Mapuche organization Consejo de Todas las Tierras ("Council of all lands"). He intended to run for president in 2005 election, but his candidacy was rejected.
Political résumé:
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[edit] Polls
The first poll to directly evaluate candidate match-ups was released by La Tercera on April 28, 2007.
[edit] References
- ^ BEx ministro Jorge Arrate acepta ser precandidato presidencial del PS. El Mercurio Online.
- ^ Timonel subrogante PRSD: los radicales tenemos candidato presidencial. Social Democrat Radical Party.
- ^ Gómez ratifica sus deseos de ser candidato presidencial. El Mercurio de Calama.
- ^ PRSD enfrenta hoy unas reñidas elecciones internas. El Mercurio Online.
- ^ Candidato Marcelo Trivelli: “LA CLASE POLITICA SE ALEJA CADA VEZ MAS DE LA REALIDAD”. Ercilla.
- ^ DC: surgen voces que aíslan opción de Marcelo Trivelli. La Nación.
- ^ Marcelo Trivelli atribuye su baja en las encuestas a sus recorridos por Chile. La Tercera.
- ^ Lorenzini proclama a Soledad Alvear como candidata presidencial. El Mercurio Online.
- ^ Bitar dice que está dispuesto a ser carta presidencial del PPD. La Tercera.
- ^ [1]
- ^ Longueira: "Lavín debe ser candidato presidencial" | Emol.com
- ^ Emol.com - Longueira baja por ahora su candidatura presidencial ante escaso apoyo de la UDI
- ^ Tomás Hirsch insinúa su entrada al debate presidencial. El Mercurio Online.
- ^ El Mercurio, June 8, 2008.
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