(CPOD) Jul. 1, 2003 - Two female cabinet members appear poised to become key players in the next Chilean presidential election, according to a poll by Ipsos Search Marketing. 44.7 per cent of respondents would vote for foreign minister Soledad Alvear of the Christian-Democratic Party of Chile (PCD) in a head-to-head contest against current Santiago mayor Joaquín Lavín.

Defence minister Michelle Bachelet of the Socialist Party of Chile (PS) would defeat Lavín—expected to be the presidential nominee for the conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI)—by 2.3 per cent.

Lavín lost the 2000 run-off to current head of state Ricardo Lagos of the Agreement of Parties for Democracy (CPD) by 2.6 per cent. The next election in Chile will take place in December 2005.

Polling Data

What candidate would you support in the next presidential election?

Joaquín Lavín (UDI) 42.5% - 44.7% Soledad Alvear (PCD)
Joaquín Lavín (UDI) 44.1% - 46.4% Michelle Bachelet (PS)

Source: Ipsos Search Marketing
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 500 Chilean citizens, conducted from May 28 to Jun. 3, 2003. Margin of error is 4.4 per cent.

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