CHILE: Presidential candidates Sebastian Pinera and Joaquin Lavin close out their campaigns ahead of Sunday's election.

Record ID: 347060

  • Title: CHILE: Presidential candidates Sebastian Pinera and Joaquin Lavin close out their campaigns ahead of Sunday's election.
  • Date: 9th December 2005
  • Summary: CU: AUDIENCE SEEN FROM REAR
  • Embargoed: 24th December 2005 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA58F5DOIYFOYSGHALY2PY09FFC
  • Story Text: Two of Chile's right-wing presidential candidates closed out their campaigns on Wednesday (December 07) with messages of victory in Sunday's (December 11) election.
    Some two thousand supporters turned out to watch centre-right National Renovation candidate Sebastian Pinera end his run by breaking into song with his brother Miguel, a local celebrity singer.
    "I am immensely grateful that once again today we are together in this marvelous afternoon, as we prepare to face on Sunday and election that is going to begin an historic change in Chile," said Pinera.
    Meanwhile, some seven thousand supporters came out to cheer on conservative candidate, Joaquin Lavin.
    Lavin is an economist, member of the ultraconservative Catholic group Opus Dei, and former mayor of Santiago who has pledged to crack down on crime.
    He told the crowd that if election went to a second round, pitting him against leftist candidate Michelle Bachelet, he would ultimately win. Still, he spoke positively about a Sunday victory.
    "I have seen people pour onto the street to greet me. I have awakened the popular vote, the vote of the farmers, the hidden vote and I want to tell you that I am returning to Santiago with the total conviction that on Sunday we are going to win."
    Bachelet had planned to close her campaign on Wednesday night as well. However, tragedy struck her campaign on Tuesday (December 06) when a bus carrying her supporters to a rally plunged over a bridge, killing five. As a result, she cancelled her Wednesday rally.
    Bachelet may become Chile's first female president if she wins on Sunday. She is currently leading in the polls, but may fall short of the fifty percent of votes necessary to avoid a January run-off.
    Polls show Lavin and Pinera tied for second place.
    Bachelet, former defense minister and doctor, has campaigned on continuing the free market economic policies and liberal social programs of popular President Ricardo Lagos, who cannot run for immediate re-election.
    Lavin, who almost won the presidency in a close race with Lagos six years ago, and Pinera, have both attacked the ruling coalition in weak spots such as rising crime and stubbornly high rates of unemployment.
    More than eight million Chileans will go to the polls on Sunday.
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