Chile "The Best of the Andes," 1926-1950
Following reelection, President Borgoño continued his policy of modernising the Army and Navy; the conflict with Colombia greatly expedited the costs of those advancements (as the Brazilians were rather eager to help train the Chilean forces). He also made some efforts to improve the hydroelectric facilities over the course of his second administration, but as the war became more brutal and prolonged, his attention was eventually drawn northwards entirely.
Following the 1930 election of Jorge Alessandri (son of former Presidential candidate Arturo Alessandri), a moderate member of the National Party, and the conclusion of the Colombian War in early 1931, the Republic of Chile returned to its domestic focus; over the course of the next five years, the Chilean education system was revamped and improved drastically (literacy rose from 79% in 1930 to 91% in 1935, and the number of University graduates a year more than doubled), taxes were reduced (which lead to 7-9% GDP growth throughout the 30's), and the hydroelectric industry continued to boom. Alessandri was easily reelected in 1935, and his second administration saw continued growth, particularly in the aviation industry.
In 1940, Manuel Montt Lehuedé (also of the National Party) was elected president; during his administration, the Chilean economy experienced a major downturn as a result of the coup in Argentina. Chile and the new Argentinean regime twice came to close blows, and Lehuedé's drastic increase in military spending did little to help matters. In the 1945 election, he was beaten by Gabriel González Videla.
Incumbent Videla is the first Radical president of Chile, and the first president not from the National Party in almost four decades; since his election five years ago, he has implemented labour reform, continued investments in aviation, hydro-electrics, and education, and has thawed relations with the military regime in Argentina; however, his 1949 tax reform, which saw significant increases in corporate taxes, led to a mild recession and his defeat in the past election.
Admiral Daniel Palomino (National Party) won with 53% of the vote in the last election, and is slated to enter office in March, 1951. He ran on a campaign of lower taxes, peace with Argentina, and renewed growth in the Chilean economy.