the presidential election

In December 13th of 2009, the chilean people must elect they president for the period 2010-2014. All the chilean citizens, all who are registered in the electoral system, will must go to the enabled zones to vote. The electoral system it is very simple: if you are registered, you are bound to vote for the rest of your life.

In this race, run four candidates, but only three run with advantage (as tell the surveys). The fourth candidate, the leftwing Jorge Arrate, have the same minority destiny of the chilean left since the democracys back after the long years of Pinochet dictatorship.

The three most strong candidates are the rightwing Sebastian Piñera, the christian democrat Eduardo Frei, and the independent Marco Enriquez-Ominami.

Sebastian Piñera is one of the most millionaire people in Chile, and he represent to the "Coalición por el Cambio", a politic conglomerate that meets the rightwings parties. Basically, he defends the neoliberal sistem and represents the conservatism tradition of the upper class, and his measures aim to perfect the free market system, increase the number of police mens, and other populist measures, like pay a bond of $40.000 if he wins the elections.

Eduardo Frei represent the continuity of the present goverment, because he is an important member of the "Concertación" pact, a party coalition of central and leftwing currents that govern the country since the definitive democracy's back in 1990. He was presindent between 1994 and 2000, and he wants come back to Moneda house to continue the Michelle Bachelet work, the current president. Frei talk more about Bachelet work than his own goberment in the nineties, because he use the greatest popularity of Bachelet to wins the elections.

Marco Enriquez-Ominami it is an ex memeber of Socialist Party. It is the most young candidate, and his policies strategy are the criticism to the other candidates, aiming to they older and traditional way to do policy. Hence, this candidate define him like the nesesary change that needs the policy in the present. His ideas are next to the leftwing, however he is a liberal, not a socialist.
In my opinion, this election has an interesting debate between all the candidates, but this is not so important because the candidates whit more win possibilities are the representatives of the two political forces that dominate the power in Chile because of the bynominal system: The Concertación and the rightwing. That is means that the elección it's reduced to a fight of who offer more and more, Piñera or Frei, taking advantage of the people needs. I don't believe that december elections means a good future for Chile, and for all this, I don't vote , because I don't believe in both Piñera and Frei, they are the worse of the present politcy.

WHAT TO DO / WHERE TO GO IN SANTIAGO

Well, this is a cuestion a litle complicated for me, because I think Santiago its not a very beautyfull city. Anyway, this city is the capital of the country and the first city founded in this lands, and an important part of the history of Chile took here, and the people that are living here today are from all the corners of the country. Even though this is the most big, crowded and poluted city in Chile, Santiago it is my city, and hide in his neighborhoods and corners an interesting image of the chilean society.

The first place that a foreigner should visit it's the San Cristobal hill to apreciate all the extension of the city in the valley. From the top of the hill (in a windy and clean day), where is the virgin statue, the view is very wide and beautyful, specially in the afternoon or in the night.


Other places that I recomend are the neighborhoods of the center of city, in Santiago district. The Moneda house and his arrounds (Plaza de la Constitución and paseo Bulnes), and Plaza de Armas could be interesting for somebody that want to know the civic center and some of our recent history . Not far from here, many streets to the west, Brasil and Yungay neighborhoods (both are very next) shows an image of the old architecture. The people that is living there reflect of the the traditional neighborhood life thats are tipical in some places, but in the present it has been changing.


A very interesting place for whoever knows more about our society and our tipical products and food are the Vega Central, in Recoleta district, and Mercado Central, in Santiago district. Both are near of Mapocho river, to the north and to the south respectively. In Vega Central anybody can find by excelents prices a wide range of our products, especially fruits and vegetables. In this places inhabit a lot of characters that show the typical chilean mischief. In the other side fo the river, in Mercado Central the tourists can sample the taste of our typical marine food for cheapest prices.


Finally, a foreigner can't leave Santiago without visit Bellavista neighborhood an it's nightlife. A few streets next to Plaza Italia to the north, "el Bella" it is the most popular place of night entertainment in this city. In a few squares, can be found bars, clubs, restorants for all the tastes. From a beer for only $1000, to a very expensives wines and dishes, cheapest and dangerous clubs, exclusives bars and discotheques... Bellavista it is an excellent place make for all, perfect to finalice any adventure in this gray and crazy city.