| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso Nacional / National Congress |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Senado / Senate |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
19 November 2017 |
| Purpose of elections |
No coalition won an outright majority in the 155-member Chamber of Deputies and the 50-member Senate (see note 1). The Let's Go Chile (Chile Vamos) coalition, led by former President Sebastián Piñera, who held office from 2010 to 2014, became the largest force in both chambers. The Force of the Majority, led by former TV news anchor Senator Alejandro Guillier, came second in both chambers while the Broad Front (Frente Amplio), led by Ms. Beatriz Sánchez came third in the Chamber of Deputies. The percentage of women has increased in both chambers due the gender quota for candidates introduced in the 2015 electoral law (see note 2): 26.09% of the senators elected in 2017 were women (up from 20% in 2013) and 22.58% for the Chamber of Deputies (up from 15.83% in 2013).
During the election campaign, the major parties focused on the economy, tax, labour and education reforms. The Let's Go Chile leader promised to revive economic growth by lowering the corporate tax rate and scaling back the tax, labour and education reforms implemented by outgoing President Michelle Bachelet, who was constitutionally unable to seek re-election. On the contrary, the Force of the Majority leader promised to continue and deepen the reforms.
Parliamentary elections were held in parallel with the first round of the presidential elections. On 17 December, former President Piñera defeated Force of the Majority leader Guillier in the second round of elections.
Note 1:
In accordance with Act No. 20.840, the statutory number of members of the Chamber of Deputies increased from 120 to 155 and that of the Senate from 38 to 50. However, the Senate will comprise 43 members until 2022. 23 senators were elected in 2017, in addition to the 20 elected in 2013. 27 Senators will be elected in 2021, to make the Senate a 50-member body.
Note 2:
Under the 2015 electoral law, neither male nor female candidates may exceed 60% of the candidates in the list of party or coalition. The law also introduced the proportional representation system instead of the majority system. The previous binominal system granted one of the two seats in each district to the losing coalition as long as it gets at least a third of the votes.
|
Date of previous elections: 17 November 2013
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: N/A
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: November 2021
Number of seats at stake: 23 (partial renewal)
Number of candidates: 132 (78 men, 54 women)
Percentage of women candidates: 40.9%
Number of parties contesting the election: Not available.
Alternation of power: Yes
Number of parties in government: 3
Names of parties in government: National Renovation Party (RN), Independent Democratic Union (UDI) and Political Evolution Party (EVOPOLI)
Date of the first session of the new parliament: 11 March 2018
Name of the new Speaker: Mr. Carlos Montes Cisternas (Socialist Party) |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 19 November 2017 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Party for Democracy (PPD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independent Democratic Union (UDI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Renovation Party (RN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Socialist Party (PS) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Independents |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Political Evolution Party (EVOPOLI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Progressive Country |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Revolution (RD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
2017 |
|
|
|
| Party for Democracy (PPD) |
11
|
6 |
|
|
|
| Independent Democratic Union (UDI) |
9
|
4 |
|
|
|
| National Renovation Party (RN) |
8
|
6 |
|
|
|
| Socialist Party (PS) |
7
|
3 |
|
|
|
| Independents |
4
|
1 |
|
|
|
| Political Evolution Party (EVOPOLI) |
2
|
2 |
|
|
|
| Progressive Country |
1
|
0 |
|
|
|
| Democratic Revolution (RD) |
1
|
1 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
33
10
23.26%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Note: Six of the 23 Senators elected in 2017 were women. As at 14 March 2018, there were ten women out of the total 43 senators.
- The Let's Go Chile (Chile Vamos) coalition comprised the National Renovation Party (RN), the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) and the Political Evolution Party (EVOPOLI).
- The Force of the Majority (La Fuerza de la Mayoria) coalition comprised the Socialist Party (PS), the Party for Democracy (PPD), the Communist Party (PC) and the Radical Social-Democratic Party (PRSD).
- The Broad Front (Frente Amplio) coalition comprised the Democratic Revolution (RD), the Humanist Party (PH), the Green Ecologist Party (PEV), the Equality Party (IGUALDAD), the Liberal Party (PL) and Citizen Power (PODER).
- The Democratic Convergence (Convergencia Democratica) coalition comprised the Christian Democratic Party (DC) and the Citizen Left Party.
- The Green Regionalist Coalition (Coalicion Regionalista Verde) included the Social Green Regionalist Federation (FRVS).
- The For All Chile (Por Todo Chile) coalition included the Progressive Party (PRO).
Sources:
Senate (14.03.2018)
https://www.servel.cl/historico-23-de-mujeres-candidatas-fueron-electas-en-las-parlamentarias-2017/
https://elecciones2017.servel.cl/nuevo-sistema-electoral/
https://elecciones2017.servel.cl/estadisticas/ |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
