Conceded Election Gives Leftist a Boost

Chilean centrist Andres Zaldivar conceded defeat to leftist Ricardo Lagos after a primary election for the presidential candidate of the ruling coalition, setting Lagos on track to be the country’s next head of state. “It is Ricardo Lagos who will have to run for the Concertacion [coalition], and we will work with him loyally,” Zaldivar said in a speech to his supporters from the Christian Democratic Party soon after first results showed Lagos had a massive lead. With 55.22% of votes counted, Lagos had the support of 70.03% of the primary election voters compared with Zaldivar’s 29.97%, according to official Concertacion coalition figures. If the results of the primary are confirmed, Lagos will become the odds-on favorite for presidential elections Dec. 12.