José Antonio Kast is gaining momentum in the Chilean presidential race. After the first round of voting, he is poised to compete against Jeannette Jara, a candidate from the Communist Party, in the December run-off.
Kast received about 24% of the votes, pushing his hard-line approach to crime and immigration. He emphasizes a “Chilean first” policy, echoing tactics used by political figures like Donald Trump. Jara, who secured around 26% of the votes, was the frontrunner but not by much. Thanks to other right-leaning candidates gaining nearly 30% together, Kast has positioned himself as the clear favorite.
After the results, Johannes Kaiser, a radical libertarian, pledged his support for Kast. He criticized Jara and claimed Chile needed a shift away from leftist policies. Evelyn Matthei, another conservative candidate, echoed these sentiments, urging her followers to back Kast.
Chile’s current president, Gabriel Boric, praised both candidates for their advances. He labeled the election day as a “spectacular demonstration of democracy.” Jara defended the image of Chile as a prosperous nation, countering claims from her opponents.
Kast, who lost to Boric in the 2021 elections, is now campaigning on tough promises to tackle crime and immigration. One noteworthy proposal is his “Border Shield” plan, which suggests building barriers and ditches along Chile’s northern border to restrict immigration. Over recent years, over 500,000 Venezuelans have moved to Chile, driven by economic hardship in their home country. Kast made headlines by stating, “Chile has been invaded… but this is over.”
His hardline stance has roused mixed reactions among voters. Recent surveys show that public security is a top concern, with increasing reports of crimes like kidnapping and extortion, despite Chile generally being one of the safer countries in South America.
Kast’s campaign strategy draws inspiration from authoritarian leaders in the region, particularly Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, who has undertaken aggressive measures against crime. However, while crime is rising, many experts argue that Chile is still far less dangerous compared to other countries in the region.
The broader trend in South America is noteworthy. Neighboring Bolivia has recently elected a center-right president, and right-wing candidates in Colombia and Peru are expected to thrive in upcoming elections. This suggests a possible shift in the political landscape across multiple countries.
As Kast and Jara prepare for the run-off, voters will need to consider the implications of their choices—not just for Chile, but for the political stability of the entire region.
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