Chile presidential favorite Bachelet vows tax reform in first 100 days

Chile presidential favorite Bachelet vows tax reform in first 100 days
Anthony Esposito
Reuters
12:47 p.m. EDT, October 7, 2013

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Chilean presidential front-runner Michelle Bachelet promised on Monday to tackle tax reform within the first 100 days of taking office, aiming to increase corporate taxes to pay for an education overhaul.

Center-left Bachelet, who was Chile's first female president from 2006 to 2010, is well ahead in polls to win November's vote or a potential December run-off against a weakened right-wing candidate and a host of candidates from smaller parties.

"The big changes that we want to implement, mainly education reform, as well as the urgent matter Chileans face (in terms) of their pensions, require financial resources," Bachelet told a news conference as she outlined 50 promises she would make a priority in her first 100 days.

Bachelet's first presidential term was marked by market-friendly policies, but analysts say she appears to be pursuing a more left-wing agenda this time. The pediatrician and former head of international organization UN Women has pledged to create a state-run pension fund and overhaul the dictatorship-era constitution, as well as hiking corporate taxes.

More:
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-rt-us-chile-election-20131007,0,7127458.story