Sabat Victorious in Ñuñoa

Over fifty protestors took to Plaza Ñuñoa last night, furious that Pedro Sabat has finally won the election for mayor of Ñuñoa.

Pedro Sabat has been re-elected Mayor of Ñuñoa. Photo: reaccionchilena.blogspot.com

ÑUÑOA – The Second Regional Electoral Tribunal declared on Tuesday that Sabat was the victor after a comprehensive recount that saw him clinch the victory by a paltry 30 votes.  A line of riot gear police officers watched in silence as the public’s reaction became explosive..

“Sabat, Piñera, la misma billetera!” the crowd shouted. Loosely translated, this means that Sabat and Chilean President come from the same wallet, or “special interests”.

The four-term incumbent has now risen from the dead after it was declared that his socialist rival, Maya Fernandez, won on election night by a mere 18 votes. A few days later the Sabat campaign made public their concern that a table of votes had not yet been counted. The rationale behind not counting that particular group of ballots was because they did not match up with the signatures of their alleged owners.

However, the Socialist Party lawyer paid no heed to the complaint, assuming it would blow over. On the contrary, election officials took up the review and ordered a recount a week later. The table in question – “3 de varones” – went heavily towards Mr. Sabat.  In the end, the official tally showed him winning by 30 votes – not enough to fill a Transantiago bus.

Maya Fernandez spent the night with her aunt, Isabelle Allende (PS,) and other Socialist Party officials to plan their next legal route.

However, Marcelo, one participator at the protest on Tuesday night, thinks the election has been decided.  I asked him why he came if he thought the demonstration won’t make a difference.

“To support the people,” he said.

The election results in Ñuñoa serve as a vivid reminder that, at the end of the day, every vote does actually matter.