Chile faces new political landscape as leftwingers dent billionaire Piera's hopes

[Judi Lynn]

Sebastián Piñera, the ex-president, fell short of a majority on Sunday. Now the future looks unpredictable, and the leftwing Frente Amplio could hold the key
Piotr Kozak in Santiago
Tuesday 21 November 2017 03.00 EST

Chile, so used to geological upheavals, faces a vastly changed political landscape after a progressive alliance surged ahead in Sunday’s general election, and left conservative presidential frontrunner Sebastián Piñera facing a tough fight in December’s run-off.

Piñera, a billionaire and former president, had been widely expected to cruise to victory – and possibly even win outright in the first round. He still took first place, taking 36% of the vote, but faced a strong challenge by two main leftwing rivals who between them won 43%.

Former TV news anchor Alejandro Guillier, who heads a centre-left alliance, came second in the presidential race, but the real political earthquake, was the emergence of a new political force, the Frente Amplio – or Broad Front – whose roots can be traced to student protests that shook the country in 2011.

Often compared to the Podemos movement in Spain, the FA is an anti-establishment alliance of left-liberal parties, ecologists, humanists and grassroots organizations.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/21/chile-election-pinera-guillier-frente-amplio