The News
Thursday 28 of March 2024

Ex-President Pinera favored in Chile vote, runoff likely


Sebastian Pinera, former Chilean president who is running again for office with the Chile Vamos coalition, addresses supporters in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Chile will hold presidential and congressional elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo),Sebastian Pinera, former Chilean president who is running again for office with the Chile Vamos coalition, addresses supporters in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Chile will hold presidential and congressional elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
Sebastian Pinera, former Chilean president who is running again for office with the Chile Vamos coalition, addresses supporters in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Chile will hold presidential and congressional elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo),Sebastian Pinera, former Chilean president who is running again for office with the Chile Vamos coalition, addresses supporters in Santiago, Chile, Thursday, Nov. 16, 2017. Chile will hold presidential and congressional elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
Former President Sebastian Pinera is widely expected to win Sunday's election backed by Chileans who hope the billionaire businessman can lift the country from an economic slowdown, but he's unlikely to avoid a runoff. He has proposed cutting taxes on business to promote growth and promises to launch a $14 billion, four-year spending plan that includes fresh investments in infrastructure. Polls give him a wide margin over his nearest competitor, center-left Sen. Alejandro Guillier.

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Billionaire businessman Sebastian Pinera is heavily favored to top Sunday’s election backed by Chileans who hope the former president can resuscitate a flagging economy, but polls suggest he won’t get enough votes to avoid a runoff.

The world’s top copper producing country has been hurt by lower international prices and demand for the metal that is the backbone of its economy.

Pinera is proposing to cut taxes on businesses to promote growth and promises to launch a $14 billion, four-year spending plan that includes fresh investments in infrastructure.

Pinera, 67, struggled with large protests over inequality and education during his 2010-2014 presidency and he ended his term with low popularity ratings. But the economic slump and overall disenchantment with the center-left government has given him a boost in this election.