Posting from Santiago, Chile: Environmental Issues Will be a Priority in Government Headed by President-Elect Sebastian Piñera

Sunday 17 of January, represented an historic date for Chilean history. After 20 years, the coalition currently in the government formed by the Christian Democratic Party, the socialist party, Radical Party, and Democratic Party was defeated by the Coalition for the Change formed by two parties that represent the center right: National Renovation Party, and the Democrat Independent Party.

The defeated coalition governed Chile since 1990. The first president was Patricio Aylwin (1990-1994), elected in the first democratic election since 1973. After that, assumed Eduardo Frei (1994- 2000). The third President was Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006), the first socialist since Salvador Allende’s election. The last president of this coalition is the current president Michelle Bachelet who will conclude her term on March 11.

The Coalition of Parties for the Democracy, official name for the Coalition in the power since 1990, did good governments. The coalition reached economic growth, social peace and maybe the most important legacy is the country’s democratization after 17 years of military government, but after 20 years is normal a weakening on the exercise of the power and a change is needed.

On January 17 the Chile’s people elected Sebastian Piñera as new President. He is one of the richest businessmen of the country, former Senator (1990-1998) and important politician since the first democratic government. He belongs to National Renovation Party, a center right party. His election entails that the center right wins its first democratic election since 1958 but should not mean a big change in the country’s future.

Chile has a clear direction committed with the democracy, social justice and economic development. In his first speeches as elected president Pinera has emphasized his recognition to the good labor done by the Coalition for the Democracy, but at the same time has pointed out the necessity of improving in many fields such as economic growth, poverty eradication, crime and corruption fight, and State’s management.

With respect to environmental issues, the new Government has not announced big changes. In the last days was promulgated the law that creates the Environment Ministry, an important signal that the environmental issues will be a priority topic in the next years. The new government will put special emphasis on topics such as: air and water pollution especially in the big cities, sustainable development, environmental courts, renewable energy incentives through taxation measures, emission reduction and civic participation on environmental issues.

--José Ignacio Henriquez
Santigo, Chile
LLM Graduate, December 2009