Michele Bachelet Spat On At Event, Warns That She Will Not Be Intimidated [VIDEO]

The former president Michele Bachelet and current presidential candidate of the Chilean opposition launched a stern warning today after she was spat on the face by a young student in the campaign trail.

"A person who does not understand democracy attacked me today, but I want to say clearly that if they are looking to frighten me, they clearly do not know me," said the former UN executive director of Women, following the attack in the northern city of Arica.

Bachelet was attacked Tuesday by a young man who spat on the candidate when she arrived at a citizen's meeting that was held in the town square of the city, located 2,050 kilometers north of Santiago.

After the incident, an adherent of Bachelet hit the aggressor in the face who moments later was subdued by security personnel of the candidate and handed over to the local police.

The attack suffered by former president Bachelet who ruled from 2006 to 2010 was condemned by most of the candidates in the race, both from the opposition and the ruling party.

Claudio Orrego, candidate of the Christian Democrats, posted on his Twitter account that the attack on Bachelet is a "deplorable attack. I condemn it with all my might. Respect and dialogue are the only way forward as a country," he said.

Pablo Longueira, one of the candidates of the ruling party also stated on Twitter that he condemned the assault on Michele Bachelet. "That's not the way democracy should be, nor the way to build a fairer Chile," he added.

Progressive Party candidate Marco Enríquez-Ominami also condemned the incident: "I condemn any act of violence. The attack today against Bachelet, is unacceptable."

The other candidate of the ruling alliance, Andres Allamand "categorically rejected" the aggression against Bachelet. "Actions of this nature damage our living and our democracy and therefore, I express my sympathy and respect for candidate Bachelet publicly," he said.

During Bachelet's presidency there was a resurgence in student protests that have been active to this day. The left leaning students have become regular figures in public life in that one of their leaders, young communist leader Camila Vallejo came to international prominence during Bachelet's protest both for her derision of the government's policies and her good looks.