Crowded bus stops in different parts of Chile and kilometer-long traffic jams are marking the holding of the second round of the country’s presidential elections, which is being disputed between left-wing deputy Gabriel Boric and conservative lawyer José Antonio Kast.
In the communes of Puente Alto, Maipú, La Florida and San Miguel, all in the metropolitan area of the capital, it was possible to find people waiting for up to two hours to get a car and go to the polling station.
“It’s the worst that we elderly people have to wait so long in the sun, with this heat,” retired Mariana Vargas, who lives in the neighborhood of La Reina, in the city of Santiago, told Efe.
Members of the two candidates’ campaigns also complained about the situation and encouraged voters to give a ride to neighbors, with the aim of guaranteeing one more vote in the election, which has been marked by balance in polls.
“It is a day in which we all have to collaborate. We are interested in that a large part of the people go to vote,” stated Kast.
Boric, in turn, denounced that less than 50% of public transport is working in the country and guaranteed that he wants explanations about the situation.
“Later, we will see the responsibilities. The important thing now is to guarantee the vote”, said the deputy.
The Minister of Transport, Gloria Hutt, recognized the problem throughout the day and guaranteed that it was making “all efforts” to resolve it as quickly as possible.
“There are episodes of congestion on important roads, and this affects the fluidity of public transport routes, when there is no exclusive lane. With this, waiting times have increased,” admitted the incumbent at a press conference.
Government spokesman Jaime Bellolio, meanwhile, denied accusations that there is a strategy in place for people not to vote in this second round. “We have about 75% more buses circulating than on a normal Sunday,” said the Executive representative.
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source https://pledgetimes.com/problems-in-public-transport-and-traffic-jams-affect-elections-in-chile/
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