Michelle Bachelet

Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (born September 29 1951) is a Chilean socialist politician and Chile's first female Defense Minister. She is currently a candidate for Chile's presidential election of 2005, representing the governing Coalition of Parties for Democracy (CPD).

Political life

Bachelet joined the Socialist Party of Chile in the 1970s. In 1995 she became a part of the party's Central Committee, and from 1998 until 2000 she was an active member of the Political Commission.

Related Topics:
Socialist Party of Chile - 1970s - 1995 - 1998 - 2000

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In 1996, she ran for mayor of Las Condes ?a suburb of Santiago? for the Socialists, obtaining only 2.35%.

Related Topics:
1996 - Las Condes

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Bachelet was named Minister of Health by President Ricardo Lagos in March 11 2000. On January 7 2002 she was appointed Defense Minister, becoming the first woman to hold this post in the history of Chile and of Latin America.

Related Topics:
Ricardo Lagos - March 11 - 2000 - January 7 - 2002

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In late 2004, following a surge of her popularity in opinion polls, Bachelet accepted to become the Socialist's candidate for the presidency, resigning on October 1 of that year from her government post in order to begin her campaign.

Related Topics:
2004 - October 1

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A primary was to be held to formally define the sole presidential candidate of the CPD. However, Bachelet's rival, Christian Democrat Soledad Alvear, a former cabinet member of the current and past two CPD administrations, pulled out of the race two months early due to a lack of support within her own party and in opinion polls.

Related Topics:
Christian Democrat - Soledad Alvear

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Bachelet's main rivals in the presidential race are the right-wing Joaquín Lavín (UDI) and the center-right Sebastián Piñera (RN). Lavín ran for president in 1999, where he was defeated in a runoff by current president Ricardo Lagos. According to opinion polls, Bachelet would fall short of the 50% needed to win the first round outright in December, however she would comfortably defeat either of these candidates in the resulting runoff.

Related Topics:
Joaquín Lavín - UDI - Sebastián Piñera - RN - 1999 - Ricardo Lagos

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