Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet and her Nueva Mayoría leftist coalition government were dealt a major blow in the 23 October municipal elections, the first electoral test for the Bachelet government since it assumed office in March 2014. The result, which saw the centre-right opposition coalition, Chile Vamos, increase its presence and regain control of some emblematic municipalities like the capital, Santiago, which it lost in the previous 2012 contest, was not a surprise given the unpopularity of the Bachelet government. This stems from various factors including government corruption scandals which have afflicted the political and business class alike; the government’s perceived foot-dragging on delivering on electoral pledges; and the continued domestic economic slowdown. With tensions between the Bachelet executive and Nueva Mayoría member parties heightened as a result of the electoral defeat, the prospects are not looking good for the ruling coalition ahead of the 2017 general elections.End of preview - This article contains approximately 2159 words.
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