President Michelle Bachelet, from "La Concertación" (a coalition entered by the Socialist party, the Radical party and the Christian Democratic party ), entered in office on March 11, 2006 (for a four year periood) In the general election, she won the runoff against Sebastián Piñera  the candidate from the center-right coalition (Alianza por Chile).

Bachelet campaigned on improving public education, social security, health services for the poor and unemployment benefits in a country intent on building a social safety net to match its free market reforms.