Bachelet will insist that Congress approve the right for Chileans abroad to vote

To see international photos, click here

SANTIAGO.- President Michelle Bachelet stated today that she will continue to request Congress to approve the law project that allows Chileans who live abroad participate in elections.

The statements were made after President Bachelet's participation in a ceremony this morning at the national palace, La Moneda, to award 109 resident foreigners in the country with Chilean citizenship.

"We are going to insist that Parliament approve this right, which demonstrates the indissoluble link that people have to their homeland", declared the Head of State.

She also explained that every time she travels outside the country and meets "Chileans residing abroad, they ask me what I already know that they are going to ask: When will we be able to vote?".

According to the Interior Ministry's Department of Foreign and Immigration Affairs, an average of 500 foreigners apply for Chilean citizenship every year by way of a Nationalization Letter, which is formally requested from the President of the Republic.