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| Chilean presidential election, 2017 | |
|---|---|
| Election name | Chilean presidential election, 2017 |
| Country | Chile |
| Type | Presidential |
| Previous election | Chilean presidential election, 2013 |
| Previous year | 2013 |
| Next election | Chilean general election, 2021 |
| Next year | 2021 |
| Election date | 19 November 2017 (first round); 17 December 2017 (runoff) |
Chilean presidential election, 2017 The 2017 presidential election in Chile culminated in a two-round contest that reflected shifts among Chile Vamos, Nueva Mayoría, Movimiento Autónomo, Revolución Democrática, and other political actors, producing a runoff between two leading figures from broadly opposing coalitions. The campaign unfolded amid debates over pension reform, Constitution of Chile discussions, and public responses to economic indicators tracked by the Central Bank of Chile and labor data from the National Institute of Statistics (Chile).
The electoral contest followed the end of President Michelle Bachelet's second term and the fragmentation of the center-left coalition Nueva Mayoría, while the center-right coalition Chile Vamos reorganized after internal primaries involving leaders such as Sebastián Piñera, Felipe Kast, and José Antonio Kast. Political realignment was influenced by public protests linked to the Student protests in Chile, 2011–2013, debates on the Cupertino Pension System legacy tied to the privatized Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones model, and policy controversies during the Bachelet administration involving ministers from Partido Socialista de Chile and members of Partido por la Democracia. International observers referenced experiences from the 2016 United States presidential election and the 2015 Argentine general election in assessing campaign dynamics.
Chile's presidential election followed rules established in the Constitution of Chile and electoral statutes administered by the Servicio Electoral de Chile; a candidate needed an absolute majority to win in the first round, otherwise the top two advanced to a runoff as codified in the constitution. Voting procedures involved voter rolls maintained by the Civil Registry and Identification Service of Chile, with ballots organized under rules applied in previous contests such as the Chilean general election, 2013 and regional elections including those in the Metropolitan Region, Chile and Valparaíso Region. Campaign finance regulations referenced statutes debated in the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and the Senate of Chile, while the Electoral Justice system adjudicated disputes during candidate registration and primary contests.
Major contestants included former President Sebastián Piñera representing Chile Vamos, former Minister Alejandro Guillier supported by factions of Nueva Mayoría, and independent or third-way figures such as Beatriz Sánchez of Frente Amplio (Chile), Marco Enríquez-Ominami of Partido Progresista (Chile), and José Antonio Kast of Partido Republicano de Chile (running as an independent in 2017). Campaigns emphasized proposals on pension reform debated in the Public Policy arena, education measures recalling the influence of Camila Vallejo and Giorgio Jackson, tax reform legacies linked to Hacienda (Chile), and security policies invoking mayors from Santiago and legislators from the Congress of Chile. Media coverage by outlets such as El Mercurio, La Tercera, CNN Chile, and Televisión Nacional de Chile shaped narratives, while televised debates organized by the Servel and civil society groups featured interactions among candidates and figures like former ministers Alfredo Moreno and union leaders connected to the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores.
Polling firms including Cadem, CEP (Centro de Estudios Públicos), GFK Chile, and university-affiliated researchers at Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and University of Chile tracked voter intentions, producing a series of surveys that showed fluctuating support among Sebastián Piñera, Alejandro Guillier, and Beatriz Sánchez. Polls referenced approval metrics similar to those used to evaluate presidents such as Ricardo Lagos and Patricio Aylwin, and were discussed in analyses by political scientists from FLACSO Chile and commentators associated with Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. Media aggregation of poll results compared trends to international cases like the 2017 French presidential election and regional contests such as the 2017 Peruvian general election.
In the first round on 19 November 2017, Sebastián Piñera led with a plurality, while Alejandro Guillier finished second and Beatriz Sánchez placed third, triggering a runoff held on 17 December 2017. The final tally in the runoff produced a victory for Sebastián Piñera, who defeated Alejandro Guillier and subsequently prepared to form an administration with figures from Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, and allied independents. Results were certified by the Servel and reported across outlets such as La Tercera and El Mercurio, with turnout comparisons drawn to previous elections like the 2005 Chilean presidential election and the 2013 Chilean presidential election.
Following his victory, Sebastián Piñera began cabinet selection processes involving negotiations with leaders of Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, and the Evópoli party, balancing appointments to ministries such as the Ministry of Finance (Chile), the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security (Chile), and the Ministry of Education (Chile). The new administration faced inherited policy challenges including reforms to the Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones, debates in the Congress of Chile over labor and taxation bills, and public expectations shaped by social movements rooted in the Student protests in Chile, 2011–2013 and the broader history of transitions from the Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990). International reactions included statements from heads of state in Argentina, Brazil, and United States presidential administrations, and the transition process invoked institutional roles for the Contraloría General de la República de Chile and the Supreme Court of Chile during the handover. Category:2017 elections in Chile