Santiago, Chile
A Socialist single mother finished ahead this week in the first round of Chiles presidential elections, but she will have to survive a runoff to become the South American countrys first female president. Michelle Bachelet, the candidate of Chiles center-left ruling coalition, fell four points short of the 50 percent needed to win in the first round. Her opponent in the runoffconservative millionaire businessman Sebastián Piñeragot a quick boost when third-place finisher Joaquín Lavín, conceded defeat and pledged his total support to Piñera. Bachelets Concertación bloc has ruled since Gen. Augusto Pinochet left power in 1990.
