Chilean conservative Pinera seen winning presidency: media forecast

Reuters
Chilean presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera with his grandchildren and his wife Cecilia Morel speaks to the media after voting in a public school during the presidential election, in Santiago, Chile, December 17, 2017. REUTERS/Ricardo Rojas

SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Billionaire former President Sebastian Pinera will likely win Chile's presidential election on Sunday, Radio Bio-Bio forecast, a result that would likely usher in more market friendly policies in the world's top copper producer. Pinera, a conservative, was seen taking 54.8 percent of the vote, the local broadcaster said after polls closed, with center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier with 45.2 percent in the contest to take over from President Michelle Bachelet. The exit poll from Radio Bio-Bio, a well-known broadcaster, was the most accurate in Chile's first round presidential vote in November. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Paul Simao)