Santiago, Chile – In a seismic political shift, Chile has elected José Antonio Kast, a staunchly conservative former congressman, as its next president. The results of Sunday's runoff election, announced shortly after dawn, signal a dramatic departure from the country's recent political trajectory and have resurrected painful memories of its authoritarian past. Kast, whose campaign resonated with voters anxious about rising crime and immigration, secured a decisive victory over his leftist opponent, Jeannette Jara, garnering 58.16% of the vote compared to Jara's 41.84% with over 93% of ballots tallied.
Kast's ascent to power marks the first time a politician of such pronounced right-wing ideology has led Chile since the conclusion of Augusto Pinochet's brutal dictatorship in 1990. His campaign was characterised by a robust platform promising to restore order, combat escalating violence, and impose stringent controls on irregular migration. He pledged to deport tens of thousands of undocumented individuals, even issuing an ultimatum for them to depart before his inauguration in March or face forced expulsion. This hardline stance on security and immigration, coupled with his avowed opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, has drawn comparisons to figures like Donald Trump and has deeply concerned human rights advocates and those who suffered under the previous military regime.
The election unfolded against a backdrop of considerable social and economic turbulence in Chile. For over a decade, mandatory voting had not been in place, but its reintroduction for this election may have influenced the outcome, potentially mobilising a segment of the electorate more inclined towards Kast's conservative message. His victory speech, delivered in Santiago, was framed as a triumph for the nation and for hope. "Here, no individual won, no party won – Chile won, and hope won," Kast declared. "The hope of living without fear. That fear that torments families." He further elaborated on his security agenda, stating, "When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it… We must show great firmness against crime, organised crime, impunity and disorder."
However, for many Chileans, particularly those who experienced the repression of the Pinochet era, Kast's victory is a deeply unsettling development. Alicia Lira, a woman who has tirelessly sought justice for her partner, who was apprehended in the spring of 1986 and never seen again, represents a generation still grappling with the unresolved traumas of the dictatorship. Her ongoing quest for accountability underscores the profound historical fissures that Kast's election has, for some, reopened. The implications of this far-right presidency are far-reaching, promising a significant recalibration of Chile's approach to national security and its stance on immigration, potentially ushering in an era that prioritises a more authoritarian brand of governance.