Chile's Murdoch:

In the news:

Chile: Billionaire beat leftists, now faces runoff

Right-wing billionaire Sebastian Pinera beat three leftists in Sunday's presidential election but failed to obtain a majority, setting up a runoff against a veteran of the coalition that has ruled Chile for two decades of democracy. (...)

A runoff win by Pinera, 60, would install a right-wing government in Chile for the first time since Gen. Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship. But in a region now dominated by leftists, Pinera can't find the votes without persuading leftists to take a chance on him. (...)

Pinera ranked No. 701 with $1 billion on the Forbes magazine world's richest list. He built his fortune bringing credit cards to Chile, and his investments include Chile's main airline, most popular football team and a leading TV channel.

Sports and media is what Murdoch uses to get an audience, and then that power is used to influence politics.

Billionaire media figures with political heft: Berlusconi, Pinera, Murdoch. This is a significant trend.


posted by Quiddity at 12/13/2009 05:34:00 PM