Right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast wins Chilean presidency
Conservative candidate José Antonio Kast has won Chile’s presidential runoff election, defeating government-backed candidate Jeannette Jara to become the country’s next president, according to official election results.
Chile’s Electoral Service said on Sunday night that Kast secured 58.21% of the vote after ballots from more than 98% of polling stations were counted, compared with 41.79% for Jara.
Kast, the founder of the Republican Party, will serve a four-year term. In the first round of voting held on November 16, Kast placed behind Jara, receiving 23.92% of the vote compared with her 26.85%, forcing a runoff between the two candidates.
Kast’s campaign focused heavily on security, employment, and border control, with a hardline approach to crime and immigration. His proposals included deploying the military to high-crime areas, strengthening border barriers, and carrying out mass deportations of undocumented migrants, many of them Venezuelan.
Kast has publicly cited El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s security policies as an influence.
President Gabriel Boric called Kast to formally recognize his victory and to begin the transition process. Boric said the two leaders are scheduled to hold their first in-person meeting on Monday to initiate the transfer of power.
“You have been elected President of the Republic of Chile, and therefore the president of all Chileans, and you know that this is a very great responsibility that must be approached with care, humility, and hard work,” Boric said during the call. “I want you to know that, as President of the Republic and soon to be former president, I will always be available to collaborate in the destiny of our country.”
Kast thanked Boric for the call and said he hoped the transition would be orderly and constructive.
“Democracy has spoken loud and clear. I have just spoken with President-elect José Antonio Kast to wish him success for the good of Chile,” Jara said in a statement. “To those who supported us and were mobilized by our candidacy, be assured that we will continue working to advance a better life for our country.”
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
