Ultra-Conservative Ex- Lawmaker José Antonio Kast Chosen as Chile Next Leader.

In a decisive runoff election, far-right politician José Antonio Kast has won the presidential office in Chile.

A Commanding Victory

With more than 99% of polling stations reporting, Kast won 58.17% of the vote, beating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%.

This signifies Kast's third bid for the presidency, having earlier been lost by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round.

Platform Centered On Security and Immigration

Recognized for his unwavering socially conservative views and regard for the era of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was primarily centered on promises to combat increasing insecurity and radically curb migration.

He repeatedly pointed to immigrants, notably the around 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for public safety problems. During the election cycle, he gave an final demand for them to exit before the March 11 handover or face deportation.

His proposals featured Trump-inspired measures such as erecting camps, barriers, security fences, and increasing the army presence on the northernmost border.

Amid a Continental Wave

Many commentators interpret Kast's victory as fitting into a broader rightward wave in South America, following this year's political results in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Yet, other analysts also frame it as a continuation of the regular rotation of power between left-wing and right governments since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990.

Governing Without a Clear Mandate

Despite his sweeping popular vote triumph, Kast will not command an clear majority in the legislature, not in the lower house or the Senate, even if all right-leaning parties are counted together.

This legislative situation might hinder his agenda, such as a vow to slash public spending by $6 billion within a year and a half—a plan for which he has not detailed a clear explanation.

"There are several questions about how a Kast government will be that we don't know because he has not said his methods for implement them," said a political professor.

The expert continued, "On economic policy, it is almost certain we will see adjustment measures typical of the right. But the area with considerably less doubt is on public safety, because that has been his flagship issue across the campaign."