Over eight million people in Chile will vote in Sunday's presidential and parliamentary elections.
According to forecasts, no candidate in the presidential polls is likely to gain more than 50% of vote. If this is the case, a run-off will be held on January 17, 2010.
The forerunners are Sebastian Pinera, a billionaire businessman and a center-right leader, and Eduardo Frei, a former president from the governing centre-left coalition.
Analysts say the elections are likely to see the end of 20 years of center-left rule.
The winner will succeed Michelle Bachelet, the incumbent Chilean president, on March 11, 2010. According to the Chilean Constitution, a president is elected for a single four-year term.
About 17,000 police officers will guarantee security during the elections.
MOSCOW, December 11 (RIA Novosti)
