The official results are expected for this Sunday night.
Chileans were this Sunday called to vote in the general elections, in which it was still uncertain which candidate will finally be able to occupy the presidency.
According to the media and analysts, these were the most uncertain elections since the end of the dictatorship (1990), with two favorite candidates in antagonistic positions while a shift in the model is at stake that brought economic stability, but against which they stood up. unprecedented protests two years ago denouncing social inequality.
A young left-wing deputy, Gabriel Boric (35 years old), and the radical right candidate, José Antonio Kast (55), appeared as favorites, according to polls published fifteen days ago, since an electoral ban has been in force.
Both represented the opposite extremes in this election, while behind them were, in what could be called center-left and center-right, Yasna Provoste and Sebastián Sichel, respectively. They are the representatives of the two coalitions that have governed the country for 30 years and that this time have been a little relegated to the political scene and polarization. However, according to polls, they could not be considered finished either.
At the close of this edition, the polls had just closed and the count began, which would define if there would be a second round and who would pass.
On a particularly hot southern spring day – with more than 30 degrees Celsius – long lines were seen at voting centers in Santiago and cities in northern and southern Chile, according to AFP. In Chile, voting has been voluntary since 2012 and there is usually a low electoral turnout, especially among young people.
“You have to come and vote to turn this page of division and mess in the streets,” said Cristina Arellano, a 42-year-old accountant at a school in Ñuñoa, a middle-class commune in the capital, where she went to vote.
A large number of young people turned out to vote. They were the protagonists of the plebiscite that in October 2020 decided by 78% to change the Constitution – currently a Constituent Convention is being developed for that purpose – which, despite several modifications during the government of Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006), could never remove the label of being inherited from the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990).
“You have to vote, the country needs changes, we are bored with the same politicians. But with these ranks and this disorganization it seems that they want us not to vote ”, he complained to the AFP Felipe Rojas, 24-year-old student.
“We are queuing for more than an hour; this is not right, we want to vote. Enough of this Chile ”, said 19-year-old Carla Fuenzalida, very indignant.
In these elections, they also voted to renew the entire Chamber of Deputies and half the Senate, as well as regional councilors.
It was expected that around 22:00 the first official results will be given already with the advanced count. (I)
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