In a seismic political shift, Chile has elected José Antonio Kast, a far-right politician, as its next president, marking the most significant move towards the right in the nation's post-dictatorship era. The results of a closely contested runoff election, announced following a period of intense campaigning, signal a profound reorientation of the country's political landscape. Kast is slated to be inaugurated on March 11, ushering in an administration promising a radical departure from recent governance.
The election campaign was overwhelmingly dominated by pressing concerns regarding public safety, burgeoning levels of crime, and the escalating issue of immigration. Kast’s campaign narrative consistently portrayed Chile as teetering on the brink of chaos and insecurity, a depiction that resonated with a significant portion of the electorate. He successfully tapped into widespread anxieties, pledging to restore order, implement a robust crackdown on irregular immigration, and enact substantial fiscal austerity measures. His victory is increasingly viewed as a potent manifestation of a broader, discernible rightward political trajectory gaining momentum across Latin America and indeed, on a global scale.
Kast, who ultimately garnered over 58% of the vote in the decisive runoff, decisively defeated Jeanette Jara, the candidate representing the governing left-wing coalition. His policy proposals bear a striking resemblance to those espoused by former US President Donald Trump. Among his most prominent pledges are the construction of a border wall, the establishment of maximum-security prisons, and the implementation of large-scale deportations targeting undocumented migrants. Specifically, Kast has articulated a plan to expel approximately 330,000 individuals residing in Chile without legal status, a measure predominantly aimed at migrants from Venezuela. His vision for enhanced border security includes a formidable array of fortifications, such as walls, electric fences, and trenches, complemented by an augmented military presence.
This electoral outcome represents a watershed moment for Chile, fundamentally altering its post-1990 democratic trajectory. Kast is notably the first president to have emerged since the end of the military dictatorship to openly express admiration for former dictator Augusto Pinochet. The election has garnered commendation from a cadre of prominent right-wing leaders internationally, including figures like Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and the leader of Italy's Brothers of Italy party, Giorgia Meloni, alongside Argentine politician Javier Milei.
However, the implications of Kast’s ascent to power are a subject of considerable debate and concern among analysts. Many express apprehension regarding the potential ramifications for the robustness of Chile’s democratic institutions and the possibility of a further ideological recalibration within the conventional right-wing political spectrum. The narrative linking rising migration to an increase in criminal activity, which was a central tenet of Kast’s campaign, has been challenged by some observers who dispute the direct causal relationship. Nevertheless, it is widely anticipated that Kast’s administration will proceed with the implementation of stringent measures designed to combat crime and curb irregular immigration, thereby reshaping the nation's domestic and foreign policy landscape.