Chile will vote in the fourth presidential election in 18 months

The election is the most open competition since the 1990s. It could disrupt Chile’s traditional political cycle as the two favorites are not included among the established coalition that has ruled for the last three decades

Chile has already started voting on Sunday in elections, their fourth in 18 months. This time to elect a new president from seven candidates, with the winner overseeing the country’s first constitution since the dictatorship.

The election is the biggest open race since the 1990s and could break Chile’s traditional political cycle. As the two favorites do not belong to the established coalition that has ruled for the past three decades.

After a campaign marked by two years of intense social protest, outgoing President Sebastian Pinera. Became the first public figure to vote at a school in Santiago’s affluent Las Condes neighborhood. All opinions matter. Come and vote,” he told television cameras. “We can resolve our differences peacefully by voting.

In opinion polls, many Chileans rebelled against deep-rooted inequality.

Following the recent election of a body to write a new constitution, a landmark demand from the protesters. The vote in May showed that most voters had rejected traditional political parties since democracy replaced Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship 31 years ago.

On Sunday, seven candidates will compete to replace the unpopular Pinera, spanning the entire political spectrum. The favorites are Gabriel Boric, 35, of the Communist Left’s Approve Dignity. And right-wing Republican candidate Jose Antonio Cast, 55, each with about a quarter of the vote’s declared intentions.

Both are from non-state minority parties.

Centrists, including the candidate from the Pinera party, turned out to be the least popular in the poll, which also found that half of the 15 million eligible voters did not make up their minds. “I would have voted, but I’m quite disappointed,” said Danilo Panes. The 26-year-old participated in the 2019 protests and believes no candidate has offered an “alternative according to the people’s demands” when they take to the streets.