Conservative billionaire Sebastian Pinera is favorite to win Chile's presidential run-off

Although the Left has been credited with raising Chile's living standards to the highest in the region the coalition has been weakened by defections and in-fighting.

Pinera, who made his fortune introducing credit cards to the Latin American country has promised to build on existing fiscal policies and introduce tax breaks.

[Sebastian Pinera, Conservative Presidential Candidate]:
"What is needed most is a good government.  Those who are having difficulties, those who are suffering, I would like to say to you today from the depths of my soul, that you will be in the heart and soul of our government from the first to the last day."

A conservative win will put Chile somewhat out of step with the rest of the region, where leftist leaders mostly dominate.

If he wins, Pinera will break fifty years of leftist rule in a country only now recovering from the trauma of the Pinochet dictatorship.

General Augusto Pinochet took over the country's leadership in a 1973 coup, during his reign more than 3,000 people were 'disappeared'.

The youngest voters in Sunday's election were born after Pinochet stepped down and have grown up in a democracy without the shadow of the dictatorship influencing their votes as strongly as it has older Chileans.

The four way presidential race has left Pinera pitted against former leftist president Eduardo Frei.

The 67-year-old Frei, a civil engineer, has vowed to continue the popular social programs of current President Michelle Bachelet.

Bachelet was also out placing her vote in what she called a triumph for democracy.

[Michelle Bachelet, Current President]:
"We are proud to carry out this act of civic friendship because it is good for the country, and today we are going to demonstrate just that; a process of an impeccable democracy."
A spokesman from Frei's campaign said they had already fulfilled one objective of their campaign to get the second round.

Pinera faces a second round against the ex-President on January 17.