Chile's ruling party presidential candidate drops out of race

SANTIAGO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Chile's ruling Independent Democratic Unity party presidential candidate Pablo Longueira Wednesday withdrew from the race, citing health reasons.

This was announced at a press conference by Longueira's eldest son Juan Pablo, who revealed his father suffers from debilitating depression.

According to Juan Pablo, the candidate began to show signs of being severely depressed after winning the primary elections on June 30.

"He has had all the necessary and timely medical attention, but there are moments in life when man proposes but God disposes. Faced with that, we must have the sincere humility to admit there are difficulties that are beyond our control," said Juan Pablo.

"Our father has always lived this way and that is what we have learned as a family. We have to face this painful and unavoidable moment. Due to his sense of responsibility to Chile, to the political Alliance and his party, today our father has resigned his presidential candidacy," he added.

Chileans are due to go to the polls on Nov. 17 to elect a president for the 2014-2018 term, as well as deputies and senators. Should a second round of voting be needed, it would take place on Dec. 15.

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