Chile poised to elect woman president

Socialist Michelle Bachelet placed first in Chilean presidential elections yesterday but will face a runoff against a right-wing businessman who is one of Chile’s richest men.

Bachelet, who once was imprisoned by Chile’s military dictatorship and went on to serve as defence minister, won 45.8% of the vote with 96% of ballots counted. But she fell short of the 50% majority that would have made her the country’s first female president.