José Antonio Kast leads runoff vote
As Chileans head to the polls on Sunday, even critics of ultra-conservative former lawmaker José Antonio Kast acknowledge he is likely to become the country’s next president. Opinion polls show Kast holding a commanding lead over his opponent, Jeannette Jara, in the presidential runoff.
Kast’s rise reflects a sharp shift in Chile’s political landscape. The hard-line candidate, who has twice failed to win the presidency, has now consolidated support from the traditional right by centering his campaign on crime, immigration and public order.
Voter frustration fuels political uncertainty
While right-wing parties secured roughly 70 percent of the vote in the first round and later backed Kast, many voters remain dissatisfied. Significant support for centrist populist Franco Parisi highlighted a large bloc of voters who feel unrepresented by either finalist.
Juan Carlos Pileo, a 44-year-old voter in Santiago, said he plans to submit a blank ballot despite mandatory voting. “Both are too extreme for me,” he said, expressing distrust of both communist and far-right platforms.
Bold promises face political constraints
If elected, Kast has pledged sweeping changes, including cutting $6 billion in public spending within 18 months, deporting more than 300,000 undocumented immigrants and expanding the role of the military in combating organized crime.
However, his Republican Party lacks a majority in Congress. Any major reforms would require negotiation with more moderate right-wing lawmakers, potentially limiting the scope of his agenda and testing his relationship with supporters who expect rapid action.
Security concerns dominate the campaign
Crime and migration have eclipsed all other political issues. During the Covid pandemic, criminal groups such as Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua expanded into Chile, contributing to a spike in violent crime. Homicides peaked in 2022, the first year of President Gabriel Boric’s term.
Kast argues that Boric’s administration has been too lenient, although official data shows homicide rates have fallen over the past two years and now mirror those of the United States.
Boric government defends its record
Despite low approval ratings, Boric’s government has strengthened security policies, including deploying the military to border areas, increasing penalties for organized crime and creating Chile’s first public security ministry.
Some voters acknowledge improvements but remain unconvinced. “I thought this government would be worse,” said Mariano Jara, 55, after voting for Kast. “But there’s still room to get tougher.”
Law and order outweigh social concerns
Jara, Boric’s former labor minister, gained prominence for expanding social welfare programs but has struggled to shift the campaign away from security issues. She has pledged tougher border controls and increased police operations, but analysts say those promises resonate more strongly with Kast’s long-standing message.
Kast has downplayed controversial social positions that hurt him in past elections, including his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. Many voters now say they are willing to overlook those views in exchange for a tougher stance on crime.
Vote seen as turning point for Chile
Sunday’s result will determine whether Chile moves further toward a hard-right vision focused on law and order, or maintains a more progressive but embattled political direction. Kast’s margin of victory will be closely watched as a measure of his mandate.