2:45 PM Today

Matthei avoids defining support in runoff

The candidate for the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) insisted on presenting herself as the unity option when exercising her right to vote this Sunday in Santiago, during a day marked by the influx of voters and the absence of incidents.

The conservative candidate arrived at the polling station at 10:30 a.m. local time (1:30 p.m. GMT), accompanied by several mayors from the Chile Vamos coalition, made up of right-wing parties considered moderate.

After voting, Matthei described herself as a “good manager who unites everyone,” emphasizing her experience working with diverse teams, “even with left-wing politicians.” She reiterated problems she had highlighted throughout the campaign: “The last ten years have been very difficult. Social unrest, a pandemic, twelve attempts at a new constitution, and a government that promised to change everything but lacked the maturity and the teams to do so. This has accumulated problems in our country. We had never seen such levels of violence and murders in broad daylight in the streets, dismemberments,” Matthei stated.

The candidate emphasized her confidence in the voters' good judgment: “I have complete confidence that Chileans will vote for someone who isn't so politicized, but rather someone who can move our country forward,” she stated. She highlighted her experience as mayor and her collaboration with various local leaders.

When asked about a potential runoff election and the possibility of supporting far-right candidates if she fails to advance, Matthei avoided clarifying her position. Instead, she recalled her experience with politically diverse teams: “When I was mayor, there were many left-wing people, and we worked perfectly well together. ‘Chile, one team’ goes far beyond three parties, it goes far beyond that.”

This Sunday's election calls on 15.7 million eligible Chileans to vote in presidential and legislative elections that, for the first time, feature mandatory voting for all registered voters. It is anticipated that none of the eight presidential candidates will reach the 50.01% of the vote needed to win in the first round, which would trigger a runoff election on December 14. The day also includes the election of senators in seven regions and the renewal of all 155 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

14:19 hsToday

Boric will address the nation after the results are released.

The Minister Secretary General of the Government, Camila Vallejo, urged citizens to vote in the morning elections to avoid the high temperatures forecast for Sunday afternoon. After casting her ballot at the Indira Gandhi High School in the La Florida district, Vallejo noted that high voter turnout was expected and announced that a report would be given by the undersecretaries around 1:30 p.m.

The minister also confirmed that, as in previous processes, President Gabriel Boric will make a statement after the release of the first report from the Electoral Service (Servel) at the close of the polling stations:"There will be a statement from the President once Servel issues its first report," she stated.

13:37 hsToday

Kast will also support “any” candidate who challenges the government

The Republican Party candidate expressed his confidence on Sunday in advancing to the second round of the presidential elections in Chile. However, he warned that, should he fail to do so, he would support any list that opposes the current government, without directly mentioning his main rivals in the race.

Kast cast his vote around 10:00 a.m. local time (1:00 p.m. GMT) at a school in Paine, a rural town on the outskirts of Santiago. This marks his third attempt to win the Chilean presidency.

12:47 PM Today

Kaiser already voted

The libertarian candidate, considered one of the favorites to advance to the second round in the Chilean elections, declared this Sunday that he will support any candidate in the runoff, with the exception of Jeannette Jara, representative of the left-wing coalition, who leads the preferences for the first round.

In a statement marked by disorder at the entrance to the electoral center in the Providencia district, in the center of the country, the candidate of the National Libertarian Party expressed his affinity with the president of Argentina, Javier Milei, with whom he said he hopes to agree on policies if he is elected.

The coincidence on election day occurred with his main opponent, José Antonio Kast, of the Republican Party, who voted in the commune of Paine, on the outskirts of Santiago.

12:32 PM Today

Matthei highlights experience and calls for avoiding “experiments”

Before going out to vote, Evelyn Matthei, a candidate for president of Chile, expressed in a dialogue with Meganoticias that this Sunday's vote transcends political figures and responds to the need to give a concrete answer to the challenges facing the country.

“This is not about any of the candidates. Chile faces security problems and a lack of jobs. I have tried to ensure that this process aims to move Chile forward,” he stated.

The candidate emphasized her track record and ability to build diverse teams: “I have the experience and I know how to work with people of different opinions,” she stated. For Matthei, the public demands proven solutions: “Chileans don’t want any more experiments,” she asserted.

12:29 pm Today

“Unity is very important”

Michelle Bachelet, former president of Chile, highlighted the importance of unity and well-being in the lives of citizens in the context of Sunday's elections.

“It is fundamental that people can live with greater well-being,” he stated.

12:12 PM Today

After casting his vote, President Gabriel Boric called for “building a united Chile.” “Beyond the differences inherent in a democracy, I am proud of this new democratic day in my country,” stated the head of state, who voted accompanied by his young daughter Violeta in Punta Arenas, in the south.

The president called on the entire population to go to the polls, “not only because it is mandatory, but because it is a civic duty”: “We are electing parliamentarians, who fulfill the duty to legislate and represent us in Congress, and also the future president of our country.”

“You are the ones who determine the future of Chile,” Boric emphasized.

11:51 AM Today

Kaiser pledged to right-wing unity

Before casting his vote in Las Condes, the libertarian candidate said that if he does not make it to the runoff, his support for the candidate who competes against Jara, the government's candidate,"will be unrestricted."

In an interview with Meganoticias, he also commented that if he doesn't make it to the second round, he won't be going on stage tonight:"That spot is for the winner."

Kaiser said that his space “is the only one that offers a true reform of the judiciary.”

11:00 AM Today

The polls have opened

As stipulated, at 8 a.m. local time, the elections opened throughout Chilean territory.