# 1993 Chilean general election

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1993 Chilean general election 11 December 1993 Presidential election ← 1989 1999–2000 → Turnout 91.23% ( 3.49pp) Candidate Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle Arturo Alessandri Besa Party PDC Independent Alliance Concertación UPC Popular vote 4,044,898 1,703,408 Percentage 57.98% 24.42% Candidate José Piñera Manfred Max-Neef Party Independent ECO Alliance Ecologist Movement Popular vote 430,950 387,102 Percentage 6.18% 5.55% Results by commune President before election Patricio Aylwin PDC Elected President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle PDC Chamber of Deputies ← 1989 1997 → All 120 seats in the Chamber of Deputies 61 seats needed for a majority Turnout 91.34% ( 3.39pp) Party Vote % Seats +/– Chamber of Deputies Concertación 55.40 70 0 UPC 36.68 50 +2 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below. Senate ← 1989 1997 → 18 of 46 seats in the Senate Turnout 90.29% ( 4.44pp) Party Vote % Seats +/– Concertación 55.48 21 −1 UPC 37.32 17 +1 This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

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General elections were held in [Chile](/source/Chile) on 11 December 1993 to elect the [President](/source/President_of_Chile), members of the [Chamber of Deputies](/source/Chamber_of_Deputies_of_Chile) and elected members of the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_Chile).[1] [Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle](/source/Eduardo_Frei_Ruiz-Tagle) of the [Concertación](/source/Concert_of_Parties_for_Democracy) alliance was elected president, and the alliance also won a majority of seats in the [Chamber of Deputies](/source/Chamber_of_Deputies_of_Chile) and maintained its majority in the [Senate](/source/Senate_of_Chile). As of 2026, this is the most recent presidential election that did not result in a runoff.

## Presidential candidates

### Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia

The Concertación, which had governed with [Patricio Aylwin](/source/Patricio_Aylwin) since 1990, needed to choose a successor who would run as their presidential candidate in the 1993 elections. To determine their candidate, the parties decided to hold primary elections, marking a historic milestone as it was the first time in Chile that a political coalition used this mechanism to select its sole candidate. Participation in these primaries required prior registration of voters, and there was no law or support from the [Election Certification Tribunal](/source/Election_Certification_Tribunal) (Tricel) or the [Electoral Service](/source/Electoral_Service) (Servel) to regulate them.

The [Christian Democratic Party](/source/Christian_Democratic_Party_(Chile)) (PDC) chose Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, the son of former President [Eduardo Frei Montalva](/source/Eduardo_Frei_Montalva), as their candidate. Frei Ruiz-Tagle had previously run as a pre-candidate for the Concertación in the [1989 presidential election](/source/1989_Chilean_general_election), but was unsuccessful. He then focused on strengthening his position within the PDC and achieved this by winning a senatorial election in the Santiago Oriente constituency in 1989 and becoming the party's president in 1990.

The other pre-candidate was [Ricardo Lagos Escobar](/source/Ricardo_Lagos), a prominent leader of the [Party for Democracy](/source/Party_for_Democracy_(Chile)) (PPD), who also had the support of the [Socialist Party](/source/Socialist_Party_of_Chile) (PS) due to his participation in the "No" campaign in the [1988 plebiscite](/source/1988_Chilean_national_plebiscite). Lagos had run as a senatorial candidate for the Santiago Poniente constituency in 1989, but despite finishing second, he lost due to the workings of the [binomial electoral system](/source/Elections_in_Chile). In 1990, he became Minister of Education in the Aylwin government, a position he held until 1992 when he left to begin his presidential campaign.

An unsuccessful attempt was made to nominate Senator [Anselmo Sule](/source/Anselmo_Sule) of the [Radical Party](/source/Radical_Party_of_Chile) (PR) and [Cristián Reitze](/source/Cristi%C3%A1n_Reitze), president of the [Humanist Green Alliance](/source/Humanist_Green_Alliance) party, as candidates. Reitze later left the Concertación after realizing that there was a move to exclude him from the primary.

On May 23, 1993, the primaries were held, and Frei won by 64% of the vote, officially becoming the candidate on May 30. The PS and PPD respected the outcome and supported the chosen candidate.

### Unión por el Progreso de Chile

In 1992, the largest right-wing party at the time, [Renovación Nacional](/source/National_Renewal_(Chile)) (RN), had two presidential pre-candidates: Senator for Santiago Oriente [Sebastián Piñera](/source/Sebasti%C3%A1n_Pi%C3%B1era) and Deputy for [Las Condes](/source/Las_Condes), [Vitacura](/source/Vitacura), and [Lo Barnechea](/source/Lo_Barnechea) [Evelyn Matthei](/source/Evelyn_Matthei). However, the aftermath of the *[Piñeragate](/source/Pi%C3%B1eragate)* political scandal that same year put an end to their aspirations, prompting RN to search for a new candidate. Manuel Feliú was ultimately selected as the replacement.[2]

The [Independent Democratic Union](/source/Independent_Democratic_Union) (UDI) initially nominated [Jovino Novoa](/source/Jovino_Novoa), its president, as its pre-candidate. However, there was a third candidate who gained support from various right-wing parties, particularly the UDI. This candidate was [Arturo Alessandri Besa](/source/Arturo_Alessandri_Besa), an independent senator for [Antofagasta](/source/Antofagasta) who had family ties to two former presidents: [Jorge Alessandri](/source/Jorge_Alessandri) and [Arturo Alessandri Palma](/source/Arturo_Alessandri).

A convention was held on August 8, 1993, at the [Diego Portales Building](/source/Centro_Cultural_Gabriela_Mistral) to choose the coalition's candidate. The parties had been in conflict for several months over the mechanism for selecting the sole candidate, even considering primaries and who would run in them.

[José Piñera Echenique](/source/Jos%C3%A9_Pi%C3%B1era), the former Labor Minister in the government led by [Augusto Pinochet](/source/Augusto_Pinochet) and brother of Senator Piñera, withdrew from the convention because he believed that the bloc's candidate should be elected through primaries. Additionally, [Francisco Javier Errázuriz](/source/Francisco_Javier_Err%C3%A1zuriz_Talavera) was considered as a potential candidate, supported by his party, the Union of Center-Center (UCC), the [National Party](/source/National_Party_(Chile%2C_1966)) (PN), and the [Party of the South](/source/Party_of_the_South_(Chile)) (SUR). However, negotiations over parliamentary seats led him to abandon his decision.[3]

A total of 1,847 delegates from the coalition participated in the convention, including 547 from RN, 449 from UDI, 391 from the UCC, 46 from SUR, and 44 from the PN. The result of the first vote was as follows, in the order of the vote:[4]

Candidate Party Votes % Result Arturo Alessandri Besa Independent 885 56.48 Nominee Manuel Feliú [es] National Renewal 607 38.74 Jovino Novoa Independent Democratic Union 75 4.79 Total 1,567 100.00

As per the agreed terms, a second vote had to be held if no candidate obtained more than two-thirds of the total votes. However, after the results of the first vote were announced, Feliú withdrew his candidacy in favor of Alessandri.[5]

Despite efforts, Alessandri's presidential campaign failed to attract voters. With the realization that winning the presidential election was highly unlikely, the right-wing parties shifted their focus towards the parliamentary elections, diverting their economic resources to prevent the Concertación from gaining the required number of parliamentarians needed to block their intended constitutional reforms.

### Cristián Reitze Campos (AHV)

After the Humanist Green Alliance (AHV) withdrew from the Concertación, they launched the candidacy of [Cristián Reitze](/source/Cristi%C3%A1n_Reitze), who based his campaign on the humanist principles of [Silo](/source/Mario_Rodr%C3%ADguez_Cobos), as well as the parliamentary work of the former AHV representative for [La Reina](/source/La_Reina) and [Peñalolén](/source/Pe%C3%B1alol%C3%A9n), [Laura Rodríguez](/source/Laura_Rodr%C3%ADguez).

### Movimiento de Izquierda Democrática Allendista

The Movimiento de Izquierda Democrática Allendista (MIDA), which was primarily led by the [Communist Party](/source/Communist_Party_of_Chile), organized an assembly attended by around 2,000 people to nominate their candidate from a list of five names: Eduardo Gutiérrez, Manuel Cabieses, Communist leader [Gladys Marín](/source/Gladys_Mar%C3%ADn), Deputy Mario Palestro (who withdrew before the vote during the assembly), and priest [Eugenio Pizarro](/source/Eugenio_Pizarro).[6] The results of the vote were as follows:

Candidate Votes % Result Gladys Marín Millie 1,117 42.63 Nominee Eugenio Pizarro Poblete 1,002 38.24 Manuel Cabieses 397 15.15 Eduardo Gutiérrez 104 3.97 Total 2,620 100.00

Marín emerged as the initial winner, but due to the close vote, a second round of deliberation was held, resulting in the selection of Pizarro as the MIDA candidate. His candidacy was officially registered with the Servel through the collection of signatures, as required for any independent candidacy under Law 18,700.[7]

Pizarro's campaign was known for its aggressive and tough tone, representing the left wing that identified with the policies of the [Salvador Allende](/source/Salvador_Allende)-led [Popular Unity](/source/Popular_Unity_(Chile)) government.

### Manfred Max-Neef (independent)

[Manfred Max-Neef](/source/Manfred_Max-Neef), an independent ecologist and economist, was also a candidate for the election with support from various social organizations, [Mapuche](/source/Mapuche) communities, and sectors of the [Christian Left](/source/Citizen_Left), [MAPU](/source/Popular_Unitary_Action_Movement), and the Workers' Party.[8] His campaign aimed to give voice to issues that were absent from public opinion, strengthen civil society, and create a scaled economy as an alternative to the alleged prevailing [neoliberalism](/source/Neoliberalism). He also positioned himself as completely horizontal on the political spectrum, which allowed him to attract votes from the Concertación, the right, the MIDA, and the AHV.

### José Piñera (independent)

José Piñera launched his candidacy in January, but when he realized that Unión por el Progreso de Chile closed its doors to him, he continued on his own path. He began as a representative of people who did not identify with the political class, but later represented sectors identified with Pinochet and the dictatorship. As a result, he received support from collaborators of that dictatorship, such as [Mónica Madariaga](/source/M%C3%B3nica_Madariaga) and [Sergio Melnick](/source/Sergio_Melnick), among others. He managed to take a considerable number of votes away from Alessandri's candidacy.

### Failed candidacies

Juan Antonio Torres Araya, a representative of the Retirees' Party, was considered as a potential candidate but his candidacy did not succeed because the Electoral Service (Servel) rejected over half of the signatures submitted to register his candidacy.[8] He eventually threw his support behind Alessandri.

The independent candidacy of Gonzalo Townsend Pinochet, the nephew of Augusto Pinochet, was successfully registered. Despite having run as a candidate for the Union of Center Center in the [San Joaquín](/source/San_Joaqu%C3%ADn) commune's municipal elections the previous year,[9] Townsend aimed to represent the Acción Pinochetista Unitaria, a defender of the dictatorship's work, in the general election. However, after two weeks, Servel invalidated the candidacy as the candidacy had been sponsored by "more than 5% of people affiliated with political parties".[10]

After his candidacy was rejected by the electoral agency, Gonzalo Townsend made a request that was ultimately denied. He accused the process of being a ploy to prevent his participation as a candidate and finally called for casting a null vote in the presidential elections.

## Results

### President

Candidate Party Votes % Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle Concertación (PDC) 4,040,497 57.98 Arturo Alessandri Besa Union for the Progress of Chile (Ind.) 1,701,324 24.41 José Piñera Independent 430,950 6.18 Manfred Max Neef Ecologist Movement (ECO) 387,102 5.55 Eugenio Pizarro Leftist Democratic Alternative (Ind.) 327,402 4.70 Cristián Reitze Humanist Green Alliance (AHV) 81,675 1.17 Total 6,968,950 100.00 Valid votes 6,968,950 94.47 Invalid/blank votes 407,741 5.53 Total votes 7,376,691 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 8,085,493 91.23 Source: SERVEL

### Senate

Party or alliance Votes % Seats Won Not up Total +/– Concertación Christian Democratic Party 378,987 20.22 4 9 13 0 Socialist Party of Chile 238,405 12.72 3 2 5 +5 Party for Democracy 275,727 14.71 2 0 2 –2 Radical Party of Chile 119,459 6.37 0 1 1 –1 Independents 27,253 1.45 0 0 0 –3 Total 1,039,831 55.48 9 12 21 –1 Union for the Progress of Chile National Renewal 279,580 14.92 5 6 11 +6 Independent Democratic Union 190,283 10.15 2 1 3 +1 Party of the South 52,509 2.80 0 0 0 0 Union of the Centrist Center 46,455 2.48 1 0 1 +1 Independents 130,587 6.97 1 1 2 –7 Total 699,414 37.32 9 8 17 +1 Leftist Democratic Alternative Communist Party of Chile 65,073 3.47 0 0 0 New Popular Unitary Action Movement 3,030 0.16 0 0 0 New Independents 13,278 0.71 0 0 0 0 Total 81,381 4.34 0 0 0 0 The New Left Humanist Green Alliance 8,528 0.46 0 0 0 0 Independents 3,740 0.20 0 0 0 0 Total 12,268 0.65 0 0 0 0 Independents 41,233 2.20 0 0 0 0 Appointed senators 0 8 8 –1 Total 1,874,127 100.00 18 28 46 –1 Valid votes 1,874,127 91.61 Invalid/blank votes 171,554 8.39 Total votes 2,045,681 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 2,265,560 90.29 Source: SERVEL, Nohlen

### Chamber of Deputies

Party or alliance Votes % Seats +/– Concertación Christian Democratic Party 1,827,373 27.12 37 –1 Socialist Party of Chile 803,719 11.93 15 New Party for Democracy 798,206 11.84 15 –1 Radical Party of Chile 200,837 2.98 2 –3 Chilean Social Democracy Party 53,377 0.79 0 New Independents 49,764 0.74 1 –8 Total 3,733,276 55.40 70 0 Union for the Progress of Chile National Renewal 1,098,852 16.31 29 0 Independent Democratic Union 816,104 12.11 15 +4 Union of the Centrist Center 216,639 3.21 2 New Party of the South 13,422 0.20 0 0 National Party 2,688 0.04 0 0 Independents 324,084 4.81 4 –4 Total 2,471,789 36.68 50 +2 Leftist Democratic Alternative Communist Party of Chile 336,034 4.99 0 New Popular Unitary Action Movement 6,644 0.10 0 New Independents 87,817 1.30 0 – Total 430,495 6.39 0 0 The New Left Humanist Green Alliance 67,733 1.01 0 –1 Ecologist Movement 2,215 0.03 0 New Independents 26,247 0.39 0 – Total 96,195 1.43 0 –1 Independents 7,104 0.11 0 –1 Total 6,738,859 100.00 120 0 Valid votes 6,738,859 91.25 Invalid/blank votes 646,157 8.75 Total votes 7,385,016 100.00 Registered voters/turnout 8,085,493 91.34 Source: SERVEL

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-N1_1-0)** [Dieter Nohlen](/source/Dieter_Nohlen) (2005) *Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II*, p262 [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-19-928358-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-19-928358-3)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Confesión de Evelyn Matthei de su participación en caso 'Grabación de Sebastián Piñera' o Piñeragate"](http://www.apocatastasis.com/sebastian-pinera-la-confesion.php). *Apocatastasis*. December 2001. Retrieved 20 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** "Errazuriz anuncia candidatura presidencial". *El Mercurio*. 25 July 1993. p. C3.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mercurio3_4-0)** ["La convención del 93 en que se eligió a Arturo Alessandri B."](http://diario.elmercurio.com/2013/07/23/nacional/politica/noticias/DEC92ADD-12C7-40B6-9388-64882CDB53DE.htm?id={DEC92ADD-12C7-40B6-9388-64882CDB53DE}) *[El Mercurio](/source/El_Mercurio)*. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-mercurio2_5-0)** ["La convención del 93 en que se eligió a Arturo Alessandri B."](http://diario.elmercurio.com/2013/07/23/nacional/politica/noticias/DEC92ADD-12C7-40B6-9388-64882CDB53DE.htm?id={DEC92ADD-12C7-40B6-9388-64882CDB53DE}) *[El Mercurio](/source/El_Mercurio)*. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 23 July 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** "Los cinco naipes del MIDA". *La Tercera*. 17 January 1993.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** "Inscritos 7 candidatos". *El Mercurio*. 14 August 1993. p. A 23.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-96c661402_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-96c661402_8-1) "Inscritos siete candidatos". *El Mercurio*. 14 August 1993. p. A 23.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Elecciones municipales 1992"](https://historico.servel.cl/SitioHistorico/index1992_muni.htm). *Servicio Electoral*. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Resolución 1416; acepta y rechaza declaraciones de candidaturas a Presidente de la República que señala"](https://www.bcn.cl/leychile/navegar?idNorma=36919). 25 August 1993. Retrieved 23 March 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [1993 Chilean general election](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Chilean_general_election) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1993_Chilean_general_election?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.