As Chileans prepare to vote Nov. 17 in a presidential race reminiscent of a Shakespearean play, Wake Forest University Professor of Political Science Peter Siavelis can discuss the likely outcome of the election and what it will mean for Chile. Siavelis is the co-author of "Democratic Chile: The Politics and Policies of a Historic Coalition, 1990-2010.” Siavelis says:“Michelle Bachelet will be elected president of Chile. An astonishing 47 percent of the electorate intends to vote for her, which contrasts with the feeble 14 percent support that Evelyn Matthei polls. The remaining vote is split between eight other candidates and a number of undecided voters. If only a few of the undecided end up voting for Bachelet, she will win this election in the first round (a second round is required if a candidate receives less than 50 percent). Even if she faces a second round, she far outpolls all competitors in head-to-head match-ups.
With the final result a foregone conclusion, the more interesting electoral story and most of the discussion in Chile centers on three questions: Will Michelle Bachelet capture a sufficient plurality to avoid a runoff? Linked to this, will the Concertación, a now-expanded coalition that includes the Communist Party and that has been repackaged as the “Nueva Mayoría,” obtain a parliamentary majority strong enough to help Bachelet carry off the structural reforms that she has promised? And, finally, just how weakened will the center-right wing Alianza emerge from these elections?”
The Washington Post featured an article co-written by Siavelis about the 2013 Chilean elections in The Monkey Cage blog. Siavelis has been published widely, writing on topics including candidate selection, immigration, and Latin American politics in numerous journal articles and book chapters including articles in “Comparative Politics,” “Comparative Political Studies,” “Party Politics,” “Latin American Research Review” and “Latin American Politics and Society.” He has contributed to and been quoted in a number of media outlets including The New York Times, NPR, O Globo, and Chilean newspapers La Tercera and El Mercurio. He also directs the Latin America and Latino Studies program at Wake Forest.
Note: Wake Forest has access to an ISDN line and a broadcast studio for interviews.
About Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest University combines the best traditions of a small liberal arts college with the resources of a large research university. Founded in 1834, the school is located in Winston-Salem, N.C. The University’s graduate school of arts and sciences, divinity school, and nationally ranked schools of law, medicine and business enrich our intellectual environment. Learn more about Wake Forest University at www.wfu.edu.
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