Chile Elects José Antonio Kast as President in a Decisive Turn to the Right

By John Pranay (Editor)

Chile has taken a decisive turn to the right after José Antonio Kast won the country's presidential runoff, securing 58.30% of the vote with over 95% of ballots counted. Kast's victory marks the latest win for the resurgent right in Latin America, following a campaign dominated by fears over crime, migration, and economic uncertainty. The streets erupted with honking car horns, and crowds waving Chilean flags packed one of Santiago's wealthiest districts, eager to hear the president-elect speak.

The presidential campaign was Kast's third run at the presidency and second runoff, after losing to leftist President Gabriel Boric in 2021. Kast, a hardline conservative and leader of the Republican Party, has proposed building border walls, deploying the military to high-crime areas, and deporting all migrants in the country illegally. His rival, Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, conceded defeat and wrote on social media, "Democracy spoke loud and clear." Outgoing President Gabriel Boric also phoned Kast to congratulate him.

Supporters of Kast arrived at the campaign headquarters in Santiago on Sunday evening, waving Chile flags and wearing red caps emblazoned "Make Chile Great Again." Ignacio Segovia, a 23-year-old engineering student, was among them, citing concerns over rising crime and immigration. "I grew up in a peaceful Chile where you could go out in the street, you had no worry, you went out and you never had problems or fear," he said. "Now you can't go out peacefully."

• 1990: Chile returns to democracy after the end of dictatorship.

• 2021: José Antonio Kast loses the presidential election to leftist President Gabriel Boric.

• 2025: Kast wins the presidential runoff, securing 58.30% of the vote with over 95% of ballots counted.

• March 11, 2026: Kast is set to take office.

Kast's victory has significant humanitarian implications, particularly for the estimated 100,000 undocumented migrants in Chile, mostly from Venezuela. Kast has pledged to give migrants until March 11, 2026, to leave the country, warning that those who remain would face deportation or prosecution. The international community has welcomed Kast's election, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio tweeting his congratulations and looking forward to "partnering with his administration to strengthen regional security." Far-right libertarian President Javier Milei in neighboring Argentina also welcomed Kast's victory, declaring it evidence that Latin America would cast off the "oppressive shackles of 21st century socialism."

Kast's more radical proposals, such as creating a police force inspired by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, are likely to face pushback from a divided Congress. The Senate is evenly split between left and right-wing parties, while the swing vote in the lower legislative body belongs to the populist People's Party. Additionally, Kast's plans to cut public spending and deport migrants could exacerbate economic uncertainty and social unrest.

This election marks a significant shift in Chile's post-dictatorship era, as Kast's presidency could redefine the country's democratic landscape. However, this trend is not unique to Chile. Across Latin America, security and migration have emerged as decisive electoral issues, with countries like Ecuador, El Salvador, and Argentina also experiencing a resurgent right. This shift suggests a broader regional trend, where voters are increasingly prioritizing law-and-order commitments and economic stability over social welfare and human rights. Crucially, this overlooks the long-term consequences of such policies, including the potential for increased social unrest and economic instability.

Assessment: Bearish.

1. Chile elects Kast as president, deepening regional shift to law-and-order politics — https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/14/americas/chile-election-kast-latam-intl

2. Chile shifts sharply right as José Antonio Kast wins Presidency — https://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/2025-12-14/chile-shifts-sharply-right-as-jose-antonio-kast-wins-presidency

3. Kast's Ascent: Chile's Sharp Political Shift Explained — https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/politics/3730246-kasts-ascent-chiles-sharp-political-shift-explained

Methodology: This analysis combines real-time data aggregation from manually selected global sources with advanced AI synthesis, engineered to provide neutral and data-driven insights.