One of the most stable and economically sound countries in South America is at a tense political crossroads, with two candidates running neck and neck in Sunday's presidential elections.

Socialist candidate Michelle Bachelet faces conservative Sebastian Pinera, a billionaire businessman, in a runoff election that will determine whether South America's shift to the left will be confirmed or whether Chile will become politically isolated from its neighbours.

The vote appears to be one of the closest since the rule of Augusto Pinochet ended more than 15 years ago. According to a survey over the weekend by the daily newspaper "La Tercera," 22 per cent of voters remained undecided.

That means that the race is much closer than the gap that separated the two candidates in December's first round of presidential polling, when Bachelet, a former defence and health minister, racked up 45.87 per cent of the popular vote and Pinera, the closest challenger, took 25.48 per cent.

"La Tercera" pointed out that Pinera would have to capture more than 70 per cent of the undecided to win. But to his favour, the polls vary widely, with some showing a 41-29 per cent split in Bachelet's favour and other showing only a small 3 or 4 per cent margin for her.

The two candidates could hardly be more different. A win for Bachelet, a paediatrician representing the ruling government coalition, would be the first time a woman would lead the country.

During Pinochet's rule, Bachelet was exiled in the former East Germany. She married, gave birth to her first child, learned German and was educated there. In her centre-left coalition, Concertacion for Democracy, she is considered a leftist outsider.

The 54-year-old Bachelet wants Chile, a rich country compared with other South American nations, to achieve a more just distribution of income, especially since the gap between rich and poor in Chile has widened.

If Pinera, 56, becomes president, "Chile will be totally isolated in South America," said Carlos Ominami, a member of Chile's senate.

Few observers can imagine Pinera of the National Renovation (RN) party getting along with the leftist presidents of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Venezuela or Bolivia. Pinera and his party colleagues in fact are striving for closer ties with the rich countries of the world.

Some Pinera supporters say Chile is "a good family living in a bad neighbourhood." They say tougher measures should be used to fight the country's growing crime rate.

Pinera has distanced himself from his opponent not only in the areas of religion and politics. He's also playing a trump card in the socially conservative country: gender. He has portrayed his opponent as an insecure woman who should not be entrusted with the business of government.

Opinion polls indicate the election is a battle of the sexes.

While most men say they will vote for Pinera, a majority of women say they will vote for the former Chilean defence minister, who describes herself as a "woman, separated, oppressed, agnostic and leftwing."

Bachelet intends to fill half the seats in her cabinet with women if she wins. She can count on receiving the votes that went to the communist candidate in the first round, but political observers said Pinera has steadily added support, including the backing of another conservative candidate in the December 11 first round.

Source: China Daily