(Michelle Bachelet / Jose Carvajal Olguin via Creative Commons)

Among the nine candidates- three of whom were women- Bachelet had 46.6% support at the time when 54.6% votes were counted.

Bachelet, a former pediatrician, became Chile's first female president in 2006, holding the office until 2010. Following her presidency, she became the head of UN organization for women, before declaring her candidacy for president in March of 2013. 

Despite the fact that Bachelet may have to run in a runoff next month to establish her victory, Bachelet has held lead in opinion polls against her rival, Evelyn Matthei. Matthei, an  economist, is supported by the currently governing conservative Alliance political bloc. 

Bachelet and Matthei have quite a complex past together-- Bachelet's father, Albeto Bachelet, was a supporter of socialist President Allende until the coup in 1973. Bachelet's father was tortured to death at a military school ran by no other than Matthei's father, Fernando Matthei Aubel. 

Bachelet has promised the Chilean people for changes in taxes and education; her supporters have high expectations for her as they hope to reform the current system- left behind from General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship era- that has kept the workers poor. 

Bachelet and Matthei are excepted to compete for the presidential seat on December 15 in a runoff. 

Reach Executive Producer Shoko Oda here.