A supporter of rightist candidate Lavin celebrates the election results Sunday

December 13, 1999
Web posted at: 11:00 a.m. EST (1600 GMT)

SANTIAGO, Chile (CNN) -- The two top candidates in Chile's presidential race are headed for a January runoff after neither garnered the simple majority needed to win outright in the country's most competitive election since the restoration of civilian rule in 1990.

Socialist Ricardo Lagos was barely ahead of right-wing candidate Joaquin Lavin with 99.33 percent of the vote counted, official results showed on Sunday.

Lagos, of the center-left ruling Concertacion coalition, had 47.96 percent support to Lavin's 47.52 percent, meaning both were still short of the 50 percent majority needed to win outright and avoid a runoff on January 16.

VIDEO CNN's Luis Clemens explains the election results. Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Chile is suffering from a recession. CNN's Alex Kuli reports. QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K Buenos Aires Bureau Chief Luis Clemens reports from Santiago, Chile, on the issues and leading candidates in the Chilean presidential election (December 12) QuickTime Play Real 28K 80K Windows Media 28K 80K     ALSO Key facts about Chile     MESSAGE BOARD Politics in Chile

Both sides admitted that the vote had not yielded a clear victor and a decision would have to wait until the second round.

"The story has not ended today, because results are very close and will remain so," Lagos said. "I am a democrat, and I respect the people's voice. I have understood the message the people have given us today, and I will continue to work tomorrow to seek that victory."

Lavin did not immediately talk to reporters, but his top campaign aide, Juan Coloma, also acknowledged that Sunday's results would force a second round.

The two men come from very different backgrounds. Both men have been linked in the past to Chile's former dictator Augusto Pinochet; Lavin as a supporter, Lagos as an opponent.

Lavin advised the Pinochet regime on media issues while Lagos has political connections to former President Salvador Allende, whom Pinochet toppled in a bloody coup in September 1973. This is Chile's third presidential election since Pinochet left office in 1990.

Both men have avoided the issue of Pinochet in their campaigns in a tacit accord not to mention Lavin's links to the dictator when he was editor of the influential daily El Mercurio or Lagos' connections with Allende.

However, they agree that if Pinochet is going to be tried for alleged human rights abuses during his 17-year dictatorship, then the trial should be held in Chile. Pinochet is being held by Britain while Spain seeks his extradition for a trial after an indictment was issued by a Spanish judge.

Despite their deep political differences, Lagos and Lavin offered similar economic platforms to take Chile out of its deep recession. They promised to maintain free market policies and committed themselves to reviving economic growth to 6 percent annually or more.

Lagos, a lawyer and economist, is seeking to become Chile's first socialist president since Allende. He wants to change the constitution inherited from Pinochet, which he considers undemocratic.

In his campaign, Lavin focused on "the problems that interest people," such as unemployment and crime. He has tried to capitalize on the recession and 11 percent unemployment that hit Chile last year after 15 years of steady growth, blaming the downturn on the governing coalition that is backing Lagos.

Four other candidates -- a communist, a humanist, an environmentalist and an independent rightist -- received marginal votes, but their supporters could play a decisive role in the runoff.

Some 8 million voters have registered for the compulsory elections.

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