Two Women Lead Chile Presidential Polls (Socialist Party of Allende)

[Say_What]

The current front runner, Michelle Bachelet, is a member of the Socialist Party of Salvador Allende. Check out her background--father arrested and tortured by Pinochet thugs, her and her mother jailed and forced into exile--now she's the front runner for President of Chile--talk about chickens coming home to roost for the USSA. If she wins the presidency it will be more bad news for the Bushistas. :-)

<clips>

SANTIAGO, Chile - Instead of macho handshakes on the campaign trail, the leading candidates in Chile's presidential race are exchanging kisses on the cheek this election year.

In this socially conservative country where domestic violence is common and women earn much less than men, the two top parties have selected female nominees, virtually ensuring that Chile will get its first female head of state.

Opinion polls show the two women, Michelle Bachelet and Soledad Alvear, commanding huge leads over all other rivals for the Dec. 12 elections.

"There are still some macho attitudes in our country, but all opinion polls show that a major cultural change has occurred in that respect," Alvear said. "The time has come for a woman president."

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=589&e=1&u=/ap/20050319/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/chile_la_presidenta

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Link to Michelle Bachelet's website. Check out the music link (musica) on the right side of the page.

http://www.bacheletpresidente.cl/


Michelle Bachelet--Socialist Party of Salvador Allende

[AP]

1. So, in other words, after 30 years of human rights violations, stealing,

murder, an economic depression that rivaled the great depression, etc., Chile is on the verge of returning to the point they were at when the US decided to muck everything up?

Thank you Henry Kissinger. Was it worth it?

[arcos]

2. I think that article is wrong...

Michelle Bachelet is from the Socialist Party, and Soledad Alvear is a member of the Demochristian Party... however, both parties are part of the same left of center coalition, opposed to the right wing coalition, full of Pinochet supporters.

I believe the right wing coalition will nominate Joaquín Lavin, Santiago's Mayor and former Presidential candidate (lost last time to current President Ricardo Lagos). Alvear and Bachelet will probably fight the nomination in a primary convention and then face off with Lavin.

[Say_What]

3. Friends who have family in Santiago say Bachelet's the front runner

and didn't the article say the polls had her ahead, what inaccuracies do you see? Canadian polls have her way out in front.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=6224

Then there's Mexico... another Socialist is the front runner there as well. Same Canadian pollsters have Andrés Manuel López Obrador as the front runner. Looks like it's shaping up to be a Malox kind of year for the Bushistas as far as LatAm is concerned.

http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=6356

:bounce:
SW

[arcos]

4. "virtually ensuring that Chile will get its first female head of state"

It says that "the two top parties" have nominated women as their candidates, implying Alvear and Bachelet will be rivals in the general election and that is not the case. Although both the Socialist and the Demochristian parties are very popular, the two right wing parties (who sadly are also very popular) are in a coalition and will probably nominate Lavin, a male.

The left wing coalition will have primary elections to determine who the candidate will be, either Bachelet or Alvear. Details have not been finalized because Bachelet supporters want a one day primary election while Alvear's supporters want a 13 week election similar to the US primaries.

It also says that both candidates lead all the others, but that is not the case either... Bachelet holds a comfortable lead with 47% of the vote, but Lavin is in second place with 28%. Alvear comes in third place with just 14%... obviously Alvear is not leading the right winger.

Check out this couple of links:
http://www.angus-reid.com/polls/index.cfm?fuseaction=viewItem&itemID=6290
http://www.tcgnews.com/santiagotimes/index.php?nav=story&story_id=8603&topic_id=1

[Say_What]

5. Lavín is falling behind, popularity decreasing, according to the ST

Also, having worked in the Pinochet government, I would assume this has something to do with his descreasing popularity.

From your Santiago Times link:

...The opposition coalition Alliance for Chile – made up of the National Renovation (RN) and the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) parties – appears to be splitting once again as RN members question the candidacy of former Mayor of Santiago Joaquín Lavín.

Lavín, a member of the UDI, had so far been the Alliance’s unchallenged choice for December’s election.

Lavín announced the names of his campaign team last Sunday, but former RN President Sebastián Piñera opted not to participate. Piñera represents a progressive minority within the Alliance, which has always taken a clear stand against the Pinochet dictatorship.

[arcos]

6. Sure, but Chile is still a very polarized country...

Although the right wing has lost all elections since Pinochet stepped down, they are still very powerful, and have only gained popularity in the last few years. Lavin came very close to beating Lagos, and even though he is far behind in the polls elections are still 9 months away, an eternity in politics. In that same article it says that some people in the right wing coalition are considering running somebody else. Who knows and maybe they run someone who makes a better showing.

Personally I hope Bachelet wins in a landslide both the primary and general elections. Although I'm confident she will, I don't think it will be a walk in the park. As I said, Chile's right wing has a lot of support and obviously lots of money.

[Say_What]

7. No doubt the Bushistas will add to their RW campaign coffers as well...

LatAm is collectively saying f*ck off to the ugly neighbor to the north, their memories of their disappeared loved ones still painful. My money's on Bachelet as well and on Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico :-)


Soledad Alvear, left, and Michelle Bachelet, former cabinet officials who are seeking the nomination from the center-left government coalition for the Dec.12 presidential election in Chile appear together in this Jan. 18, 2005 file photo. Opinion polls show that either of them would beat a candidate for the right-wing opposition. (AP Photo/Roberto Candia)

[arcos]

8. oh, I'm sure they will...

Very nice picture :)

I'm sure Lopez Obrador will win easily, and other countries are also moving left... I'm in Costa Rica and although the front runner is a right winger (former Nobel Peace Price winner Oscar Arias), anything can happen, and the center left candidate is gaining. Also, a left winger is the most popular politician in Nicaragua, Herty Lewites, and he is running for Presidente (although Daniel Ortega doesn't like it one bit).

[struggle4progress]

9. kick