Although memories of Pinochet-era human rights abuses rocked the final weeks of Chile’s presidential campaign, billionaire businessman Sebastian Piñera — a center right politician who voted to put an end to the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile’s 1988 plebiscite — won a convincing 51.6 to 48.4 percent victory over center-left Concertacion coalition candidate Sen. Eduardo Frei on Sunday, writes The Santiago Times.

Piñera won in 10 of Chile’s 15 regions, including most of the nation’s urban areas: Iquique, Valparaiso, the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Concepcion, Temuco and Punta Arenas.  Frei fared best in less populated parts of the country, though not in southern (Patagonia) Aysen, where residents strongly oppose government-supported plans to build a major hydro-electric dam project.

Frei conceded the election early Sunday evening in the company of former (Concertación) presidents Patricio Aylwin and Ricardo Lagos. Frei wished Piñera success as Chile’s next president, but said he and the Concertacion coalition that has governed the past 20 years are leaving power “with our heads held high.”

Former President Lagos spoke, too, wished Piñera well and repeated three times that the Concertacion has heard the nation’s call for a generational change in its political leadership.  Lagos then ceded the platform to three of the Concertacion’s most outstanding young leaders: Carolina Toha, Ricardo Lagos Weber and Claudio Orrego.

All three “new” leaders, however, have long belonged to Chile’s governing class and achieved their current leadership positions – at least in part – by virtue of their family name and political connections.

Before giving a victory speech to his supporters, President-elect Piñera phoned President Michelle Bachelet to express his hope that Chile’s most popular president (81 percent approval rating) would counsel him on how to best steer his government. He also said he hoped to continue many of the policies she promoted. The conversation was broadcast live on TV.

President Bachelet said she would be pleased to share breakfast with Pinera on Monday morning.

Read more here.

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