Chile faces regional elections that could shape November presidential race

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – More than 13 million Chileans are called to the polls this Sunday to elect the first governors of Chile’s 16 regions in a second round of voting, the results of which will be examined as a key to a future presidential race.

This is the first time Chileans will elect their regional leaders; until now, governors were appointed by the executive branch, so these elections represent a historic step toward decentralization.

There will be no second round of voting in three of the country’s 16 regions, as the winners were elected in the first round with more than 40% of the vote: independent Rodrigo Mundaca in Valparaíso, socialist Andrea Macías Palma in Aysén, and leftist Jorge Flies in Magallanes.

The race for Santiago, the endemic abstention, the independents, and the limited functions of the new governors are the key factors that will shape the elections Sunday, completing those held on May 15-16.

SANTIAGO, THE GREAT BATTLE

The metropolitan region, where Santiago is located, and 7 of the country’s 19 million inhabitants live, is the mother of all battles: Whoever wins it will become the second most important elected official after the president, with the largest number of voters.

Karina Oliva (36) and Claudio Orrego (54) managed to oust the only right-wing candidate in the first round, symbolizing the confrontation between two very polarized leftists, with great differences in content and form.

Oliva, accused of inexperience, belongs to the Frente Amplio (FA), a coalition that emerged less than a decade ago as a renewed left, while Orrego is a familiar face from the old politics, from the historic Christian Democracy (DC).

WITH AN EYE ON NOVEMBER

With the presidential elections just around the corner (November 21), all pundits agree that the regional elections mark the kickoff of the race for La Moneda and that the territories could become strongholds for the candidates, especially Santiago.

Electing Oliva would tilt the opposition axis toward the radical left and assist FA’s Gabriel Boric or Communist Daniel Jadue, who leads the polls. At the same time, an Orrego victory could bolster a moderate candidate, experts say.

THE INDEPENDENT SURPRISE

Contrary to expectations, independents were the big winners in the May mega-elections, which also elected municipal leaders and constitutional convention delegates.

Many candidates with no party affiliation were the surprise winners in May, showing the growing rejection of traditional parties. A clear example was Mundaca (a water rights activist) in Valparaiso, the epicenter of Chile’s drought.

Of the 26 candidates running in the regional election, three are independents running independently, and six are considered such even though they are running on party lists.

TOWARD DECENTRALIZATION

Chile was one of only two countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), along with Turkey, that did not elect intermediate authorities (such as governors), as neighboring countries such as Argentina and Peru do.

It was during the second administration of Michelle Bachelet (2014-2018) that Parliament approved a reform that splits the figure of the current mayor in two and creates two new ones: the elected regional governor and the presidential delegate, who will continue to be the president’s representative in the territory.

The new governors, who take office on July 14 for a four-year term, will become obvious authorities and, in many cases, territorial counterforces to the centralized Santiago, where public and economic power is now concentrated.

LIMITED FUNCTIONS

The widespread criticism is that regional governors will be “kids with baby teeth,” with little authority and a tiny budget.

Formulating development policy for the region, representing the territory in legal matters, overseeing the public sector, and approving the regional land use plan will be some of their responsibilities. However, Congress is still working on legislation to clarify various issues. Order and security, however, will depend on the president’s delegates.

LOW TURNOUT?

Since voting became voluntary in 2012, abstention has become endemic in Chile. No election since then has seen more than 50% of the electoral vote, except last October’s plebiscite on a new constitution (51%).

Although the regional election is being watched with great anticipation, it is expected to attract fewer voters than in May, when 43% participated.

The new total quarantine that begins on Saturday throughout the capital – caused by the saturation of hospitals due to the coronavirus epidemic – threatens to prevent the population from voting, even though they can go to the polls without special permits. Nevertheless, there are already many voices calling for a return to compulsory voting.