Chile is heading to the polls Sunday in a presidential primary with no women on the ballot.
The six candidates are divided into two electoral alliances: Apruebo Dignidad and Chile Vamos.
While Apruebo Dignidad represents the left and the far-left with two aspirants, Chile Vamos ranges from one independent to one far-right former mayor.
Only one candidate from each pact will go forth in the race and compete in the November election, with a December run-off likely.
The country’s traditional centre-left, the political coalition that governed almost uninterruptedly from 1990 to 2018, could not reach a deal for a primary.
However, the president of the Senate, Yasna Provoste, a former Education minister and a left-leaning Christian Democrat, could become their nominee.
Who’s running today?
Apruebo Dignidad
Daniel Jadue
Current Recoleta mayor and member of the Communist Party.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/daniel-jadue-2021-primary-1152x768.jpg)
Gabriel Boric
A former student leader with a seat in the House and a member of Frente Amplio, Chile’s new left.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/gabriel-boric-2021-primary-1150x768.jpg)
Chile Vamos
Sebastián Sichel
A right-leaning independent from humble beginnings, Sichel led the Ministry of Social Development and Family under the Piñera administration… until the president used a cabinet reshuffle to kick him off the government.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/sebastian-sichel-2021-primary-1000x768.jpg)
Ignacio Briones
Piñera’s former Finance minister. His campaign was criticised after he said that he wanted to “bury” Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorial legacy.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/a_uno_1295443-1152x768.jpg)
Mario Desbordes
Desbordes also had a seat in Piñera’s cabinet, until December 2020, as Defence minister.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/a_uno_1295372-1062x768.jpg)
Joaquín Lavín
A member of the far-right party UDI, Lavín is an Opus Dei supernumerary.
![](https://media.biobiochile.cl/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/a_uno_1295310-1152x768.jpg)