Chilean centre-left wins 10 of the 16 region governorships

[peppertree]

Chile's traditional centre-left parties will govern 10 of the country's 16 regions following Sunday's governorship runoff elections in another blow to President Sebastián Piñera's party.

With Sunday's results when only 13 regions remained to be decided via a runoff, 10 regions will be in the hands of the former Concertación, including Santiago, three under independent candidates, two under the newly-formed left-wing Frente Amplio ('Ample Front') alliance - and only one for Piñera's Chile Vamos ('Go Chile') ruling coalition.

Turnout was low, with just 19.6% of 13 million registered voters participating in a country under severe lockdown measures despite the most prolific vaccination campaign in South America.

Nationally, the Concertación-led Constituent Unity garnered 47.5% of the vote; with the Ample Front netting 28.7%; Go Chile, 13.5%; and mostly left-leaning independents, 10.4%.

The great battle was Santiago's Metropolitan Region (home to 40% of Chileans), where Christian Democrat Claudio Orrego was elected governor there with 52.7% of the votes, compared to 47.3% of Karina Oliva from Frente Amplio.

“This election shows that good politics can be done and reach the hearts of Chileans,” Orrego, 54, said in his victory speech.

“Raising the Metropolitan Region after the pandemic will be very difficult, with a legacy of pain, unemployment, health and education problems.”

The only region Piñera's allies won was Araucanía, where most incidents with Mapuche leaders took place over the past few years.

Independent candidates won Atacama, Coquimbo, and Biobío.

At: https://en.mercopress.com/2021/06/14/chilean-centre-left-wins-10-of-the-16-region-governorships

Santiago Region Governor-elect Claudio Orrego (blue shirt) celebrates his victory with supporters - one of 10 for the center-left Concertación coalition, which has ruled Chile for most of its post-dictatorship era since 1990.

The regional governor elections were a blow to President Sebastián Piñera's center-right coalition, which was likewise defeated in constitutional convention elections on May 16th.

[Judi Lynn]

1. Such good news. Hope this will take all the wind out of Pinera's sails.

He outstayed his welcome so long ago, just as any Pinochet supporter would.

Next election dates:

General elections in Chile are scheduled to be held on 21 November 2021, including presidential, parliamentary and regional elections.

Voters will head to the polls to elect:

A President of the Republic to serve a four-year term.

Twenty seven of 50 members of the Senate to serve an eight-year term in the National Congress.

The full 155 members of the Chamber of Deputies to serve a four-year term in the National Congress.

The full 278 members of the regional boards to serve a four-year term.

Following an electoral reform in 2015, the Senate increased its membership from 38 to 43 in 2017, and will grow to its full size of 50 seats following this election.[1]

All the newly elected authorities will begin their terms on 11 March 2022.

. . .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_Chilean_general_election

[peppertree]

2. True. Pinera is a living example of money in politics.

Someone who - what with his lack of charisma and criminal record (the Banca of Talca heist in '82) - would have had no chance in politics, but for his money (and support from others with money).

"When you're rich," as Tevye in the Fiddler on the Roof reminded us, "they think you really know."

Still. Piñera has been practically a statesman compared to Macri - much as Pinochet was far less disastrous than Videla and Galtieri were in their day (can you imagine!).

Have a great week, Judi. Stay cool and hydrated!