NewMichelle Bachelet sweeps back into power in Chile's presidential election
Socialist Michelle Bachelet returned to power with 62 per cent of vote in Chile election
Michelle Bachelet won Sunday’s presidential run-off, returning centre-left parties to power by promising free education for all and plans to narrow the gap between the rich and poor, after years of protests.
Bachelet won 62.2 per cent of the vote, the most decisive victory in eight decades of Chilean elections. Her conservative rival, Evelyn Matthei, only got 37.8 per cent and conceded defeat in the worst performance for the right in two decades.
The 62-year-old president-elect, who led the country from 2006 to 2010, will take office on March 11. She is also the first to win a second term since Chile’s return to democracy in 1990.
Bachelet needs the momentum of her resounding victory to strengthen her mandate and try to overcome congressional opposition to fulfil her promises.
She ended her previous presidency with 84 per cent approval ratings despite failing to achieve any major changes. This time, however, activists are vowing to hold her to her promises, which include raising corporate taxes to 25 per cent from 20 per cent to help fund an education overhaul, as well as changing the dictatorship-era constitution, a difficult goal given congressional opposition.
“The social and political conditions are here and at last the moment has arrived,” Bachelet told more than 10,000 cheering supporters gathered for her victory speech.
“If I’m here, it’s because we believe that a Chile for everyone is necessary. It won’t be easy, but when has it been easy to change the world?”