Saint Paul’s message to the church at Corinth is to unite just as the many parts of a body come together to form one. Conservative billionaire and now President-Elect of Chile Sebastian Pinera faces the challenge of uniting a country that is divided ideologically. His election Sunday ends two decades of Center-Left rule and returns to power the political parties that supported Augusto Pinochet’s 1973-1990 dictatorship.

Many Chileans, however, interpret Pinera’s victory as a signal the country has moved beyond Pinochet’s brutal legacy and also is ready to see off those who have ruled ever since. “I think the country deserves a change. The same people have governed for a long time,” said 18-year-old nursing student Joanna Garcia, waving a flag outside Pinera’s campaign headquarters Sunday.

Pinera has vowed to overhaul Chile’s business climate to boost efficiency and promises to create a million jobs and encourage economic growth. Critics say Pinera’s plan depends too heavily on the private sector. He might also struggle to push reforms through a divided Chilean congress.

“We will form a government of national unity which will build bridges of understanding and knock down walls of division,” Pinera said after his victory, offering an olive branch to what could be tough opposition from a fractured Left.

His vast wealth could also complicate matters for Chilean diplomats. For example, Pinera’s investments include a large share of LAN, Chile’s main airline, which has sizable operations in Peru, Ecuador, and Argentina that are subject to those governments’ regulations.

While Pinera has promised to sell off his LAN shares before taking office in March, he wants to keep control of Chile’s leading television channel and most popular soccer team, both of which have dealings with other countries. And while Pinera put more than $500 million in Chilean investments into trusts last year, he reportedly has many other holdings outside Chile.

Current president Michelle Bachelet, who was constitutionally barred from running for reelection, leaves office in March. She has garnered high approval ratings for steering the country through the global economic downturn and promoting progressive social reforms.

Source: Articles by Alonso Soto and Simon Gardner for Reuters, Michael Warren for Associated Press, CNN,
and Investor’s Business Daily