Spotlight: The challenges facing governors in Chile's main mining regions

In the elections for governors in Chile five of seven regions with a strong mining industry chose independent candidates, although they were close to the center-left ruling coalition.

While the results of the first and second rounds, concluded con Sunday, indicate likely continuity in mining development, the challenges associated with environmental and community issues could increase. 

Regional governors will take office in January with the mission of overseeing economic and social policies and chairing regional councils for the following four years.

"They may adopt a more regulatory stance and a more balanced approach to communities and the environment, and at times they may not be so welcoming to new investments," Miguel Ángel Fernández, a doctor in political science and academic deputy director of political-social research at Universidad del Desarrollo (UDD), told BNamericas on the possible impacts on mining.

This analysis considers seven regions with copper production of at least 200,000t/y, according to data from geology and mining service Sernageomin.

In the Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaíso and Santiago metropolitan regions, independent governors were reelected but under the Por Chile y sus Regiones pact of the socialist, communist, Frente Amplio (the coalition of President Gabriel Boric) and other parties.

In O'Higgins region, a socialist candidate won and in Tarapacá the current governor, who is independent but linked to the pro-government pact, was ratified in the first round in October.

Only in one of the regions analyzed did the opposition win, namely Coquimbo, which will be governed by an independent supported by the center-right Chile Vamos coalition.

Although 10 of the 16 regional governors in the country will be pro-government incumbents, the composition of municipal councils, regional councils, mayoralties and governorships shows a balance in favor of the opposition.

The vote was "very divided between the opposition bloc [including the Republicanos and Chile Vamos] capturing 50% of the vote, the ruling coalition 47% and independents 3%," said Fernández.

The rise in preference for right-wing parties and independents could be a sign of the current government's falling popularity and growing disillusionment, the political expert said.

The majority of independent governors in several mining regions "reflects a trend toward local leadership that distances itself from the original political project of President Boric’s administration. It also responds to a growing need for candidates who are more directly connected with regional concerns," he said.

Below are the governors elected in the main mining regions.

Region	Governor Elect	Party	Pact
Tarapacá	Jose Miguel Carvajal	Independent	Por Chile y sus Regiones
Antofagasta	Ricardo Díaz	Independent	Por Chile y sus Regiones
Atacama	Miguel Vargas	Independent	Por Chile y sus Regiones
Coquimbo	Cristóbal Juliá	Independent	Vamos Chile
Valparaíso	Rodrigo Mundaca	Independent	Por Chile y sus Regiones
Metropolitan	Claudio Orrego	Independent	Por Chile y sus Regiones
O'Higgins	Pablo Silva	Socialist	-