Conservative Pinera wins first round in Chile presidential election

France24 ^ | 11/20/17 | n/a

[Redmen4ever]

Ex-president Pinera had a 36.6 percent lead to Guillier's 22.6 percent with more than 90 percent of the votes counted after the first round.

[Redmen4ever]

Sebastian Pinera is the candidate of the center-right coalition. He received 36.6 percent of the vote in the first round, and will face socialist Alexandro Guillier, who received 22.7 percent, in the run-off, in December.

While Pinera got a substantial plurality, his election is not guaranteed. The #3 and #6 candidates are, like the #2 candidate, left-wing. The #4 candidate is right-wing, and the #5 candidate is center. Carolina Goic of the centrist Christian Democrats might be the kingmaker.

Over in the Congress, Pinera's coalition picked up a lot of seats in both the Senate and the House of Deputies, but not enough in either for a majority. In both chambers, his coalition might be able to forge a working majority with some or all of the centrists.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Chile has a good Social Security system we should emulate.

[ASOC]

Does this mean my imported grapes will cost less now?

IOW - what does this election mean to the avg Joe in the US?

[Redmen4ever]

Average Joe need not concern himself with who is inventing what, who is exploring where, or when his groceries are being delivered to his supermarket. If all Average Joe cares about is who his favorite professional ball team tabs in the upcoming draft, that is A-o.k. But, were he interested, he could follow all kinds of news from many different places all across the world.

[Socon-Econ]

... If all Average Joe cares about is who his favorite professional ball team tabs in the upcoming draft, that is A-o.k. ...
*************
Some of these “Average Joe’s” need to learn more about what is happening outside of their TV sets — before it’s too late for them.

[Redmen4ever]

There was a time Average Joe didn’t have to care who won an election. But, now that the Democrats have turned into progressive socialists, the future of our country is on the ballot. So, yes, we need to get the word out, get Average Joe registered to vote, and get on the vote on election day or before.

[aquila48]

“Chile has a good Social Security system we should emulate.”

Set up by Milton Friedman if I’m not mistaken. In fact Friedman was the architect of much of their economic system after Allende was overthrown, and Chile became the most successful economy in Latin America.

They took a couple steps back in recent years by electing socialists.