Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Formerly About Advanced Micro Devices -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: bentway who wrote (544522)	1/17/2010 5:33:29 PM
From: longnshort	Respond to of 1578341

Billionaire Sebastian Pinera wins Chile presidency Jan 17 05:00 PM US/Eastern By MICHAEL WARREN Associated Press Writer SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) - Billionaire Sebastian Pinera has won Chile's election, becoming the nation's first democratically elected right-wing president in 52 years. The ruling coalition's candidate Eduardo Frei conceded defeat Sunday after 60 percent of polling stations reported a 52 percent to 48 percent advantage for Pinera, ending two decades of center-left rule since the end of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. "We will be guardians of liberty and of all our social victories," Frei said. Pinera had a wide lead in every poll, and the race only tightened after Frei and outgoing President Michelle Bachelet repeatedly invoked the legacy of Pinochet, whose dictatorship was supported by parties that make up Pinera's coalition. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. SANTIAGO, Chile (AP)—Billionaire Sebastian Pinera held a wide lead over the ruling party's Eduardo Frei with most votes counted in Chile's election Sunday, a trend that could make him the nation's first democratically elected right-wing president in 52 years. With 60 percent of polling stations reporting nationwide, Pinera has 52 percent to 48 percent for Frei, a former president who represents the center-left coalition that has governed Chile for 20 years since the end of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. The initial results brought gloom over the ruling coalition's election headquarters, and Interior Minister Edmundo Perez Yoma said "the trend is irreversible." Pinera had a wide lead in every poll, and the race only tightened after Frei and outgoing President Michelle Bachelet repeatedly invoked the legacy of Pinochet, whose dictatorship was supported by the parties that make up Pinera's coalition. But many leftists have become disenchanted after two decades with the same group of politicians in power, and Frei's effort to raise fears of a retreat on human rights may not have persuaded enough of them to turn out on Sunday. Pinera, a Harvard-trained economist, focused his campaign on hopes for change, promising to create a million jobs and double Chile's per-capita income of $12,000 a year by expanding the country's growth to 6 percent a year. Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This