History of Chile him to Spain. Thereafter, Pinochet returned to Chile in March 2000. Upon descending the plane on his wheelchair, he stood up and saluted the cheering crowd of supporters, including an army band playing his favorite military march tunes, which was awaiting him at the airport in Santiago. President Ricardo Lagos later commented that the retired general's televised arrival had damaged the image of Chile, while thousands demonstrated against him. The "Concertación" coalition has continued to dominate Chilean politics for last two decades. In January 2006 Chileans elected their first woman president, Michelle Bachelet, of the Socialist Party. She was sworn
President of the Senate of Chile la Corporación" (Committee of Chambers [of the Congress]) with the Vice President. The President's responsibilities include decreeing the summons to the Senate for its sessions, presiding over sessions and directing the debates on the Senate floor, acting as a representative of the Senate by defending its parliamentary jurisdiction and dignity, and presiding over the sessions of the "Congreso Pleno" (plenary meeting of both chambers). President of the Senate of Chile The President of the Senate of Chile is the highest authority of the Senate of Chile. The position comes after the Ministers of State in the line of succession of