Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet shakes hands with supporters as she campaigns for reelection in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Chile will hold general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Chile Elections
Supporters of Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet attend her campaign rally in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Bachelet is running for reelection in Chile’s general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
Evelyn Matthei
Presidential candidate Evelyn Matthei smiles from the podium as she campaigns in Valdivia, Chile, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Chile will hold general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo)
Michelle Bachelet
Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet waves from atop a truck as she campaigns for reelection in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Chile will hold general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Victor R. Caivano)
Michelle Bachelet
Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet greets supporters as she campaigns for reelection in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Chile will hold general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
Chile Elections
A supporter of Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet holds a campaign photo of her during a rally in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Bachelet is running for reelection in Chile’s general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
Michelle Bachelet
Presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet holds a Santiago Wanderers de Valparaiso soccer team jersey with her name during a campaign rally in Valparaiso, Chile, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013. Bachelet, who was Chile’s first female president from 2006 to 2010, is the favorite to win Chile’s Nov. 17 presidential election. (AP Photo/Victor Caivano)
APTOPIX Chile Elections
Supporters of Chile’s former President Michelle Bachelet attend her campaign rally in Santiago, Chile, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2013. Bachelet is running for reelection in Chile’s general elections on Nov. 17. (AP Photo/Luis Hidalgo)
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SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Michelle Bachelet is expected to overwhelmingly win Sunday’s presidential election and possibly avoid a runoff, riding a wave of hope that brought millions of Chileans to the streets demanding social change.
The 62-year-old former political prisoner has taken up the cause of protesters demanding education reform, greater environmental protection and a reduction of Chile’s sharp income inequality.
Thursday is the last day of campaigning for elections that will also choose 120 members of the lower House of Congress and 20 out of 38 Senate seats.
But getting elected to a second four-year term as Chile’s first and only female president is likely to be the easy part for Bachelet. Analysts say she’ll have a harder time pushing her agenda through Congress.
