Darragh O'Brien
Ceist:241. Deputy Darragh O'Brien asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on Chile's recent general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50374/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 28 November 2017
Ceisteanna (241)
Freagraí scríofa
The general elections which took place in Chile on 19 November consisted of both Presidential and congressional elections. In the Presidential ballot, the candidate of the ‘Chile Vamos’ coalition, former President Sebastian Piñera, won 36.6% of the vote, with the candidate of the Nueva Mayoría coalition, Alejandro Guillier, in second position with 22.7%.
Under Chilean electoral law, a second round election between the two candidates who secured the highest number of votes will now take place on 17 December. In the congressional elections on 19 November, which were the first to take place under new arrangements which ended the former binomial electoral system, there were significant changes in representation in both the Senate and Congress, both of which have an enlarged number of seats.
As a result, whoever wins the second round of the Presidential elections may not command a congressional majority. It is noteworthy that female representation in the new Congress will increase from 16% to 23%.
I am pleased to have this opportunity to recall that Ireland enjoys excellent and warm bilateral relations with Chile. We look forward to developing that relationship in the months and years ahead, including through the opening of a resident embassy in Santiago, which I announced last month.