🔗 Share this article Far-Right Former Lawmaker José Antonio Kast Voted In as Chile's Next Head of State. Following a conclusive second-round vote, hardline politician José Antonio Kast has clinched the top job in Chile. A Commanding Win With over 99% of ballots counted, Kast won 58.17% of the votes, beating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%. This signifies Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having in the past been beaten by the incumbent president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 runoff. Campaign Built On Security and Immigration Noted for his unwavering socially conservative views and regard for the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was primarily centered on promises to combat rising crime and radically restrict migration. He frequently blamed immigrants, notably the around 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for crime rates. Throughout the race, he gave an stern warning for them to exit before the March 11 handover or face expulsion. His proposals included U.S.-style measures such as erecting camps, border walls, electric fences, and strengthening the army presence on the northernmost border. Part of a Regional Wave Numerous analysts interpret Kast's victory as part of a broader conservative wave in South America, following recent political results in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. However, other experts further describe it as a continuation of the predictable rotation of power between left-wing and right governments since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990. Leading Lacking a Solid Mandate Despite his sweeping electoral win, Kast is not expected to hold an absolute majority in the legislature, not in the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, even if various conservative parties are counted together. This legislative reality could complicate his plans, including a pledge to slash public spending by $6 billion within a year and a half—a measure for which he has yet to offered a clear explanation. "There are numerous things about what a Kast presidency will operate that remain unclear because he has not detailed his methods for implement them," noted a political science expert. The expert stated, "On economic policy, it is very likely we will see spending cuts associated with the right-wing. But the area with much less ambiguity is on law and order, because that has been his workhorse across the campaign."