ASSESSMENTS

A Vote on the Future of Chilean Copper and Lithium

Dec 5, 2017 | 10:48 GMT

While Beatriz Sanchez, left, did not reach the final round of voting in the Chilean presidential election, her Broad Front coalition may have an influence in the race between Alejandro Guillier, center, and Sebastian Pinera.
Chile presidential candidates (left to right) Beatriz Sanchez, Alejandro Guillier and Sebastian Pinera.

(ROBERT ZAVALA/Stratfor)

Highlights

  • The rise of leftist political coalition Broad Front may force center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier to include some of its proposals in his platform as the deciding ballot in the presidential election nears. 
  • If Guillier wins, the coalition's economic proposals may define the future of Chile's lithium and copper industries over the next four years.
  • Argentina and Bolivia are best positioned to benefit if the Broad Front's ideas are incorporated.

In less than two weeks, voters will make a decision that could affect the crucial Chilean copper and lithium extraction industries, buttresses of the country's economy and a key area for future growth. In a Dec. 17 election, voters will choose between center-right candidate Sebastian Pinera and center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier, the top two finishers in the first round of balloting, to become the country's next president. The first-round results also included an unexpectedly strong showing by Beatriz Sanchez, the candidate representing the left-wing Broad Front coalition, elevating the group's political stature during the contest's deciding round. While capturing Broad Front's support could boost Guillier's chances of victory, to win the coalition's backing, he would have to incorporate its economic proposals, which could have a major effect on the country's energy and mining industries. ...

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