Michelle Bachelet will become Chile’s first woman president on Sunday, according to an opinion poll to be published on Thursday. The poll by Mori Chile predicts Ms Bachelet, a moderate socialist, will win at least 52 per cent of the vote, defeating her conservative rival, Sebastián Piñera, by about 5 percentage points.

Other recent surveys have also pointed to a revival in Ms Bachelet’s fortunes following her lacklustre performance in December’s first round,when the government’s candidate won fewer votes than the total achieved by Mr Piñera and a second more extreme rightwing candidate, Joaquín Lavín.