Billionaire to face Chile ex-president in run-off

Santiago: A conservative billionaire who fell shy of a first-round presidential victory can win a January run-off if he peels enough voters away from the centre-left coalition that has governed Chile for nearly two decades.

Sebastian Pinera, the right's greatest hope of regaining the presidency since the 1990 departure of dictator Augusto Pinochet, won 44 per cent of Sunday's vote, to 30 per cent for former President Eduardo Frei, with 98 per cent of the vote counted.

"We have to understand that this win doesn't belong to us," Pinera said in a victory speech to his alliance of right-wing parties. "It belongs to all Chileans, to the humble people, to the poor and the middle class, the people who most need change from their government."

Frei, meanwhile, appealed for all leftists to support him on January 17, promising a prominent role for women and young people and saying he would adopt his rivals' ideas as his own, making a priority of electoral reform to include independent politicians.

"The people have told us that there are things they don't like, that things must change, and I share this mission," said Frei.

But in an ominous sign for the ruling coalition, breakaway socialist Rep. Marco Enriquez-Ominami, who finished third with 20 per cent, refused to make an endorsement.

"Eduardo Frei and Sebastian Pinera are too much alike," he complained. "They don't represent hope, nor change, nor the future."

Frei, 67, has stressed experience and stability, continuing the policies of outgoing leftist President Michelle Bachelet, who has 78 per cent approval ratings.