Pinera takes lead in Chile presidential election: partial results

Chilean presidential candidate Sebastian Pinera delivers a speech to supporters after leading in the first round of general elections in Santiago Chile November 19, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

SANTIAGO - Former Chilean President Sebastian Pinera is leading the presidential election on Sunday, with 53.05 percent of votes counted, the Electoral Service of Chile (Servel) said.

Pinera garnered 36.66 percent of support, while his main rival, center-left candidate Alejandro Guillier, won 22.63 percent, a report from Servel showed on Sunday evening.

Chileans voted for a successor to President Michelle Bachelet. For an outright victory in the first round, the candidate must obtain more than 50 percent of the vote. Otherwise, the top two candidates will face off in a second round of voting on Dec. 17.