SANTIAGO: Billionaire Sebastian Pinera will return to power as Chile’s president next year, according to virtually complete results from a runoff election held Sunday. Bachelet and Pinera have tag-teamed the presidency since Bachelet first took office in 2006. Pinera supporters were gathered outside his election headquarters in anticipation of his victory speech. Although copper exports, which contribute greatly to Chile’s wealth, are increasing thanks to demand from China and from the burgeoning manufacture of electric cars, the country is struggling relative to previous years. Pinera and Guillier also promised to expand free university tuition brought in under Bachelet — a measure with historical resonance in Chile because paid tuition was introduced under Pinochet’s 1973-1990 rule.

Source: Manila Times December 18, 2017 03:11 UTC