Chilean Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 2009-2010: Between Electoral Surprise and Political Challenges

Abstract

The aim of this article is to shed light on the electoral process that occurred in Chile prior to the presidential and parliamentary elections of 2009 and 2010. It argues that this process is necessary to understand the results of the elecctions and the impact of Sebastian Piñera’s victory, bringing the right back to power after 52 years and the Concertacion’s defeat, the centre-left coalition that had been governing the country since the return to democracy in 1990.