Elections will produce uncertain outlook in Chile

Significance

Neither of the two coalitions that have governed since the restoration of democracy in 1990 seems likely to form the next government, marking the beginning of a new and probably less stable period. The new government taking office in March will have to grapple, at least initially, with slow growth and higher inflation as well as conflicting demands for change and stability.

Impacts

• Traditional party loyalties have been undermined by a new stability-versus-change cleavage which will complicate governability.
• The introduction in 2017 of a more proportional voting system for legislative elections has prompted the rise of new parties.
• Boric’s attempts to expand into the centre will come up against the presence of the Communist Party in his coalition.