Bachelet's Chile reforms a step closer as senator hints at support
Bachelet's Chile reforms a step closer as senator hints at support
Thu Nov 21, 2013 5:47pm GMT
SANTIAGO, Nov 21 (Reuters) - The ambitious program of tax, education and electoral reforms that leftist Michelle Bachelet is planning for Chile advanced a step on Thursday after a senator from the right-wing coalition indicated he would likely support her.
Bachelet is almost certain to win the second round of Chile's presidential elections in December against Evelyn Matthei from the ruling right-wing bloc, but will need the backing of Congress to get her reforms through.
That backing looked to be on a knife edge after Sunday's elections, particularly in the senate. But Thursday's heavy hints from center-right senator Antonio Horvath that he would defect to her program could tip the balance in Bachelet's favor in the senate, in a blow to the ruling right.
The program Horvath wants "had convergence" with Bachelet's program, he told journalists as he left a meeting with her.
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