Michelle Bachelet Jeria
She is the frontrunner in Chile's forthcoming presidential race. Bachelet, a member of the Partido Socialista (PS) - the same party as President Ricardo Lagos, is also the chosen candidate of the smaller Partido por la Democracia (PPD). Following the victory of Soledad Alvear in the primaries of the Democrata Cristiana party on 15 January, Bachelet is eager to hold the election which will decide the Concertación coalition's overall candidate.
Why watch her?
A poll by Ipsos, published on 17 January 2005, put support for Bachelet at 57.3%, enough for a first-round victory, against only 26.5% for her rightwing rival Joaquín Lavín, running for the Alianza por Chile coalition. Soledad Alvear, the former foreign minister, DC candidate and Bachelet's rival for the Concertación nomination, obtained 10.4%.
Born: 1952
Education: She is a doctor by profession, graduating in surgery and paediatrics from the Universidad de Chile.
Public life: Bachelet is the daughter of Alberto Bachelet, a former air force general who worked in the Allende administration in the final few months before the coup. Alberto died, supposedly of a heart attack, after being thrown in jail shortly after Allende was overthrown. She is separated from her husband and has three children. Before resigning her position to run for president she was Chile's, and Latin America's, first female defence minister. Prior to that she was health minister.
Timeline:
1969: Enters the Universidad de Chile to study medicine where she joins the Young Socialists organisation.
1974: Detained along with her mother in the notorious prison camp Villa Grimaldi. After being released she heads to Australia for a few months and then on to West Germany.
1980: Returns to Chile
1983: Finishes her studies in medicine, specialising in paediatrics.
1994-1997: Works as a spokeswoman for the sub-secretary of health.
1995: Becomes a member of the central committee of the Chilean Socialist party.
1996: Wins a scholarship to study at the National Academy of political, strategic and continental defence studies at the Inter-American Defence College in Washington D.C.
1998: Spokeswoman for the sub-secretary of defence.
2000-2002: Appointed as health minister in President Ricardo Lagos's new administration.
2002-2004: Becomes defence minister.
November 2004: Quits as defence minister in order to run for the presidency.
Strengths
At present Bachelet enjoys a massive lead in the opinion polls. Last year, 2004, saw a number of significant attacks on the legacy on the Pinochet era, not least in the publication of the Valech report on political detention and torture which featured testimonies from 28,000 victims of the regime. As a victim herself, Bachelet's life story appears to resonate with many voters, particularly as she has not sought to capitalise on her experience. Lagos remains a massively popular president and Bachelet has acquitted herself well in his administration. Although insiders reckon that Lagos would prefer Bachelet as his successor, he has taken care to appear neutral in the race between her and
Alvear.
Weaknesses
Commentators are divided over whether Bachelet's sex is an asset. In the competition against Alvear the point is moot as both are women; in the election proper against Lavín it may well have an impact since Chile has never had a female president. Her health could also prove to be an issue; she was hospitalised for a week in November 2004 following a bout of pneumonia. Although she took pains to emphasise her complete recovery her political enemies will be keen to exploit any sign of weakness. Bachelet's past may return to haunt her too: an article in the Chilean periodical Que Pasa? in 2003 revealed her links with the political leadership of the Frente Patriótico Manuel Rodríguez, the radical leftwing group dedicated to speeding up the process of Chile's return to democracy in the 1980s, sometimes through violence. Although her contact appears to have been limited, politically motivated journalists might attempt to dig up more dirt as the contest heats up.
Prospects
Bachelet's tussle with Alvear over the Concertación nomination could damage the coalition by revealing the ideological cracks between the parties, meaning that whoever emerges victorious may have to work hard to present a unified front ahead of December's election. Despite Bachelet's lead in the opinion polls, there is no guarantee she will be the coalition's preferred choice. Although Alvear languishes in third in a three-way race, Alvear is still predicted to beat Lavín comfortably if chosen as the Concertación candidate. Either way, the odds are on Chile voting for its first female president in December 2005.