First modification:
The result of the presidential and parliamentary elections in Chile sent a clear message about the division and vision of the country that citizens have. Two completely opposite candidates on the political spectrum went on to the second presidential round that will take place on December 19. This is José Antonio Kast of the Republican Party, who embodies the values of the Chilean extreme right. Followed by Gabriel Boric Font from the left-wing I Approve Dignity coalition.
Kast went to the second round in first position by receiving 27.91% of the votes, while Boric obtained 25.83% of these. Both represent two different feelings of citizenship, a very different view of how the future of Chile should be after the social explosion and the development of the new Magna Carta.
But in addition to choosing the future successor to Sebastián Piñera, the Chileans also chose 155 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 27 of the 50 senators, as well as regional councilors.
The distribution of political forces in the Legislative also shows the political panorama of the country. In the Lower House or Chamber of Deputies, the parties of the strongest candidates in the presidential election did not reach majorities, so it will be necessary to make alliances. Chile Podemos Más has 53 seats, the New Social Pact party won 37, while I Approve Dignity 36.
In the Senate or Upper House, Chile Podemos Más won 12 seats, New Social Pact eight and I Approve Dignity four seats. A Congress in which it will also be necessary to make strong alliances and coalitions, and which will also be a challenge for the president who arrives at the Palacio de la Moneda.
This second round raises many questions, what reading can be made of this radically opposite vote? How much will polarization affect that second round? Where will the votes of the other five candidates who participated go? What future could the new Constitution of the country have with the candidate who wins the presidency?
In this edition of El Debate we analyze the results of the elections in Chile with our guests:
-Eduardo Vergara, executive director of Fundación Chile 21.
-Rodrigo Arellano, vice dean of the Faculty of Government of the Universidad del Desarrollo.
-Carolina Cepeda, assistant professor in the Department of International Relations at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia.
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