For ten long years Chile has been undergoing a transition to democracy after 17 years of brutal dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet. Following the victory of Mr Ricardo Lagos in the second round of presidential elections last Sunday it is time to bring the transition to an end and concentrate on consolidating its democracy. Among the strongest challenges he will face when he assumes office in March will be how to handle the issues thrown up by General Pinochet's continuing overbearing presence in the Chilean body politic.
Mr Lagos comes from the moderate wing of the old Socialist Party led by Salvador Allende, overthrown in the 1973 coup. He has been a central figure in re-establishing its organisation and political presence since the formula agreed in the late 1980s to remove Pinochet from office as president. That provided for acceptance of the 1980 constitution reserving veto power for the military and the right-wing forces supporting them; immunity for human rights violators; and isolation of the communists.
The centre-left Concertation coalition between Socialists and Christian Democrats which Mr Lagos leads has made heavy weather of several aspects of the transition. Chile remains one of the most deeply unequal societies in the world, despite the economic progress it has made under both the dictatorship and transition governments. There will be strong demands from the urban and rural poor to share the fruits of growth, backed up by more confident social movements than have been seen for 30 years. A movement among the indigenous peoples (a million-strong minority in a population of 14.7 million people) for land rights will also preoccupy the new president.
But it is General Pinochet who will present the most challenging task for the new president. Mr Lagos opposed his prosecution in Spain and Britain on the grounds that this violated Chilean sovereignty, but has indicated that civil actions against Pinochet can proceed if the courts agree. A great deal of unfinished human rights and political business attends the outcome of such proceedings, irrespective of whatever decision is reached by the British Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, on whether General Pinochet is medically capable of standing trial in Spain or should be sent home to Chile.