🔗 Share this article Hardline Former Lawmaker J.A. Kast Elected as Chile's Next Leader. After a definitive second-round vote, hardline figure José Antonio Kast has won the presidential office in Chile. A Resounding Win With over 99% of ballots counted, Kast won 58.17% of the vote, defeating leftist contender Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%. This marks Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having in the past been lost by the sitting president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round. Agenda Built On Security and Migration Recognized for his unwavering Catholic views and regard for the era of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was mostly built on promises to address growing crime and significantly restrict migration. He frequently pointed to immigrants, especially the around 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for security issues. Throughout the race, he delivered an ultimatum for them to exit before the new term begins or face expulsion. His plans included U.S.-style measures such as building holding facilities, barriers, electric fences, and bolstering the army presence on the northernmost border. Amid a Broader Trend Numerous observers view Kast's win as fitting into a broader rightward shift in the region, coming after this year's electoral wins in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. However, other pundits also view it as a extension of the predictable swing of power between left and right-wing leadership since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990. Leading Without a Strong Mandate Despite his clear popular vote win, Kast does not have an absolute majority in the legislature, neither in the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, even when all right-leaning parties are grouped together. This political landscape could hinder his policy goals, such as a pledge to reduce public spending by $6 billion within 18 months—a plan for which he has yet to provided concrete steps. "There are many aspects about what a Kast presidency will operate that we don't know because he has not said how he will achieve them," commented a political science analyst. The analyst added, "In terms of economic policy, it is very likely we will see spending cuts common for the right-wing. But the area with much less doubt is on law and order, because that has been his central theme throughout the campaign."