🔗 Share this article Far-Right Ex- Legislator J.A. Kast Voted In as Chile Next Head of State. Following a conclusive runoff election, ultra-conservative candidate José Antonio Kast has won the presidency in Chile. A Clear-Cut Triumph After over 99% of polling stations reporting, Kast garnered 58.17% of the ballots, beating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%. This marks Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having previously been beaten by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round. Campaign Built On Security and Immigration Known for his unwavering Catholic views and admiration for the era of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's campaign was primarily focused on promises to combat growing violence and drastically reduce immigration. He consistently blamed foreigners, particularly the roughly 330,000 illegal individuals in Chile, for crime rates. Throughout the election cycle, he issued an final demand for them to exit before the new term begins or face removal. His policy ideas included Trump-inspired measures such as constructing detention centers, border walls, perimeter fencing, and bolstering the military presence on the northern frontier. Part of a Continental Wave Numerous commentators view Kast's victory as fitting into a larger right-wing trend in South America, similar to this year's electoral outcomes in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. Nevertheless, other analysts additionally describe it as a extension of the established alternation of power between left-wing and right governments since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990. Governing Without a Clear Mandate Despite his decisive electoral triumph, Kast does not have an clear majority in parliament, not in the lower house nor the Senate, even when various right-leaning parties are counted together. This political reality may challenge his policy goals, including a pledge to slash public spending by $6 billion within 18 months—a proposal for which he has not detailed specifics. "We have many questions about how a Kast presidency will look like that are uncertain because he has not said his methods for achieve them," noted a political expert. The professor added, "In terms of fiscal matters, it is almost certain we will see spending cuts common for the right-wing. But the area with far less doubt is on public safety, because that has been his flagship issue throughout the campaign."