By Jaime Ortega.
Michelle Bachelet has once again made history by winning the polls for a second term . With 100% of polling stations , the center-left leader had won 62.1% of the vote, compared to 37.8 % of its rival, Evelyn Matthei . Many voters however were absent.
To paraphrase a very typical expression said in the Andean country , ” voters are not even there” reflects the general voters projection. Of the 13. 5 million citizens eligible to vote , turnout only to 5.2 million, up 40 %. In fact, throughout the day the polling vote scene was boring, empty rooms and spontaneous votiers were encouraged to exercise their right to vote repeated by applauses .
Chileans , preferred to go to the beach or pool , or even holiday shopping before voting , now that is no longer required. The political skepticism and voluntary voting dominating the country was to blame for such high abstention .
Many analysts stressed that part of citizen apathy could also be attributed to the fact that Michelle Bachelet ‘s victory was so sung . Popular politics will preside Chile since March 2014 until 2018 , becoming the first case of re-election for a second term from Alessandri Palma ( 1920-1925 and 1932-1938 ) .
‘ These are the rules of democracy and the winner wins with these rules , ” said Bachelet
Over 13 million Chileans were called to the polls. And for the first time , voting was voluntary with the new law passed last year. Abstention was the highest of the Chilean democratic history . But Bachelet delivered its last vote 10 in the morning , was emphatic about the legitimacy of the outcome, regardless of the level of abstention. “It is clear that in all countries there are, voluntary voting is lower. But how clear is clear: these are the rules of democracy and the winner wins with this rule . ”
” The legitimacy of the election given the current rules of democracy. From skepticism changes need not to occur , ” said the candidate of the New Majority . Likewise the Senate President Jorge Pizarro said: “What I do not like is that they are trying to delegitimize the win. The difference of votes has been substantial and that reaffirms Bachelet ‘s triumph . ” But the truth is that since the government rushed to make clear that participation was voluntary it does not undermine the result.
However, Bachelet ‘s coalition raised to reintroduce compulsory voting . And had just closed the polls , debate flared between the Chilean political class. Former Socialist President Ricardo Lagos , who was a supporter of voluntary voting before , acknowledged that he had changed his mind and called for a return to compulsory voting . “It is a right but , basically , it is an obligation .”
Something similar was said by the student leader Camila Vallejo elected member of the Communist Party. “It is normal that there few people come , so I am in favor of automatic enrollment , voluntary and compulsory voting desincripción. ” he said.
Bachelet will have a tough term ahead , as many of the proposals that she championed during her campaign, and drawing up a new constitution , require large majorities in Parliament that it lacks. The current electoral system pushes the parties to form coalitions of center-left and center-right and at the same time distorts the representativeness of each coalition. During the campaign, Bachelet rival , the leader of the center-right Alliance , Evelyn Matthei , has made it clear she does not want to subject the country to the political and social earthquake that would draft a new constitution . And yet , this is the main flag of the president-elect , since it also depends on other political , economic and social reforms depth as promised.
The more demands requested by citizens, according to polls, is a public free and quality education. Also in the social field , the former director of UN Women coalition has promised therapeutic abortion and marriage for same-sex . And she wants to change the tax law to ensure free education , among other measures.
Election day yesterday was marked by anecdotes, like the one lived in Isla Robinson Crusoe islands of Juan Fernández , 1,000 kilometers from the mainland in the Pacific Ocean where they found a table were no ballots arrived and had to ask them to send another nearby .
But it was the outgoing president , Sebastián Piñera , who starred the most commented story, which first turned bad their ballot and then walked away, forgetting his ID , sparking jokes on social media .
Minutes after learning of the victory of the new president Pinera congratulated Michelle Bachelet by telephone , as time passed all brands of Chilean television. The candidate of the Alliance , Evelyn Matthei had no trouble recognizing his defeat : ” Michelle Bachelet will be the next president of Chile I wish you every success in the next government, Nobody who loves Chile may wish otherwise
