Chileans will head to the polls tomorrow for a pivotal presidential election that pits the governing leftist coalition against a wide field of right-wing contenders, in a vote that will also reshape the country’s legislature. Eight candidates are in the race, but none are projected to secure the required 50 per cent plus one vote to win outright, making a runoff on 14th of December between the top two contenders highly likely.

Although Chilean law prohibits the publication of opinion polls in the 15 days leading up to the vote, the last available surveys showed Jeannette Jara – the governing coalition’s candidate from the Communist Party – holding a narrow lead. She was followed by far-right Republican Party candidate José Antonio Kast. Tomorrow’s vote is set to mark a crucial moment for Chile, as voters weigh sharply contrasting visions for the nation’s political and economic future.