Santiago - With 90 per cent of the votes counted in Chile's presidential elections early this morning, it appears that neither of the leading candidates will be elected outright, and a run-off between them will be necessary on January 16th, John Kavanagh writes.
The favourite, Mr Ricardo Lagos, a Socialist representing the Concertacion governing coalition of Socialists and Christian Democrats, had a lead of less than half a per cent over the right-wing candidate, Mr Joaquin Lavin.
Ms Gladys Marin, the Communist candidate, polled less than half the seven per cent she had expected. But if Mr Lagos kept the left vote, he seems to have lost many Christian Democrat supporters to Mr Lavin.