A woman at the helm

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ON SUNDAY, self-described leftist Michelle Bachelet was voted in to the presidency in Chile, sweeping over half of the Latin American country's votes. Her victory has been cited in Latin American newspapers as being fruit of the continent's move towards socialism, one which started with the popular ratification of the presidency of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez and the recent election of Bolivian President Evo Morales. For her part, Bachelet has been cited as saying, "I am a woman, a socialist, separated and agnostic -- all the sins put together." Meanwhile, outgoing President Ricardo Lagos described his successor's victory at the polls as "a historic triumph".

Bachelet promises to work towards greater social justice in Chile and towards bridging the economic inequalities that plague the Andean country. And although her victory was described by some as a surprise, given that Chileans constitute one of Latin America's most socially conservative populations, reporters say that the streets of the capital Santiago were filled with people celebrating Bachelet's victory and waving the national flag.

And although, as an incumbent leader of a coalition, she will work to maintain political stability rather than unleashing radical change, her family history and personal profile have clearly rendered her a populist figure. Daughter of a general who was tortured to death under infamous former Chilean President Augusto Pinochet, she too suffered torture at the hands of the former dictatorship and then went into five years of exile. She has been a popular figure in Chile ever since the centre-left coalition came to power with the restoration of democratic elections. (photo: AFP)