(Fox News) – Chile, the land of gravity and snow, is the hemisphere’s most stable democracy. And now, it is the seat of a revolution as first- and second-place candidates head to a run-off vote Sunday in one of the most unpredictable elections in decades.
The surprise results, of a center-left second-place result over the more conservative Marc-Antonio Larranaga for the leadership of the left-leaning coalition, are leading to predictions of a historic runoff in the second round.
Alianza Chile, its coalition leader, would be making history if it were to make it, but it has several candidates who could do it — from left-wing maverick Michelle Bachelet to conservative conservative Sebastian Pinera to center-right Raúl Bárcena.
It is the oldest political party in the democratic world with an 85-year history. It was formed by the active of movement within the Chilean Communist Party,
with its wing led by Manuel Magnejo, the Venezuelan anarchist and, later, Argentina’s Peronist President Juan Perón, was formed by Manuel Magnejo, the Venezuelan anarchist and, later, Argentina’s Peronist President Juan Perón, during the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet.
Pinera is a former president and former chairman of petrochemical company Antarco. He spent four terms as president, from 2006-2014. He was re-elected as president four years ago.
The main difference between Pinera and Bachelet is that Pinera wants to apply a strict free market policy while Bachelet would like to raise taxes on industry and impose a minimum wage, raise a consumption tax to 18 percent.
Along with Peru, Chile is the best growing economy in Latin America, and Pinera has promising plans to continue that. That is good news for his predominantly business-friendly supporters.
By Mark Davis, Fox News