Piñera: The presidential sash "is given to all Chileans"

SANTIAGO.-  The RN presidential candidate, Sebastián Piñera, has countered statements made by President Bachelet who, according to Deputy Pablo Lorenzini (DC), said that she was not in favor of “giving up the (presidential) sash to Piñera”, opting instead to give it to “someone from the Concertación”.

Meanwhile, Piñera declared that, if the President did indeed make such a statement, “I believe her words are quite unfortunate, because the government is not here to seize the power”.  

During an interview with Radio Agricultura, Piñera stated, “the Chilean people are the ones that will decide who the Presidential sash will be passed on to, not the President” and called on the President to “govern and not become obsessed with who she will give the sash to”.

When asked about the statements made by Lorenzini, who claimed that Bachelet had planned to cut down on project negotiations between the Executive Branch and the Alianza, Piñera responded, “it is best to have a communication line that is open, constructive and fruitful, therefore if the government puts an end to negotiations with the Alianza, it is bad for the Executive Branch and bad for the country”.