SANTIAGO, Nov. 21 (Xinhua) -- The top two candidates prevailed in the first round of Sunday's presidential election in Chile are set for a runoff as each of them seem to have failed in garnering over 50 percent of the vote.
According to the preliminary results released by the Electoral Service of Chile, Jose Antonio Kast of the Republican Party has received 28.06 percent of the vote, followed by Gabriel Boric of the Approve Dignity bloc with 25.5 percent.
More than 86 percent of the votes have been counted.
Whoever win the second round will have a four-year term from 2022 to 2026 to lead a country hit by high inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and social unrest.
Aside from the two top candidates, Franco Parisi of the People's Party won 13.07 percent of the vote, and Sebastian Sichel with 12.52 percent.
Voting centers reported high turnout throughout the day, despite high temperatures across most of the country and lengthy waiting time.
The Sunday election will also choose deputies, senators, and regional councilors. Enditem
