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
Chile–Sweden relations In 1996, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden paid an official visit to Chile and met with President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle. In March 2016, Chilean President Michelle Bachelet was offered a state visit to Sweden by invitation of the King. During her visit, President Bachelet laid a wreath on the tomb of former Prime Minister Olof Palme who played a decisive role in accepting Chilean refugees to Sweden. President Bachelet also met with business leaders and members of the Chilean community in Sweden. Presidential visits from Chile to Sweden Royal and Prime Ministerial visits from Sweden to Chile Both nations