José Antonio Kast's Victory Marks a Rightward Shift in Chile

Mon Dec 15 2025 19:08:29 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a decisive election, Chile has elected José Antonio Kast, a far-right candidate, as president. His victory comes amidst rising concerns about security and immigration, signaling a significant shift in the country's political landscape.

José Antonio Kast has been elected as Chile's next president with over 58% of the vote, marking a considerable shift to the right in the country's political scene. His campaign focused on security, immigration, and a return to order, reminiscent of Chile's past under military dictatorship. Critics warn of potential human rights violations as Kast's policies echo far-right ideologies supported by figures like Donald Trump.

Chile has elected the far-right wing José Antonio Kast to be its next president, after an election campaign that was dominated by themes of security, immigration, and crime.

Kast beat the governing left-wing coalition candidate Jeanette Jara decisively with more than 58% of the vote in his third attempt at running for president.

It marks the biggest shift to the right since the end of Chile's military dictatorship in 1990. Kast has openly praised Chile's former right-wing dictator, Augusto Pinochet.

In his first speech to supporters as president-elect, Kast said: Chile will once again be free from crime, free from anguish, free from fear.

Criminals, delinquents - their lives are going to change. We're going to look for them, find them, judge them and then we're going to lock them up, he added.

At a gathering of his backers in the capital Santiago, many draped in Chilean flags, chanting and taking selfies, there was jubilation as the results came through.

I'm happy we can recover the country's security and patriotism, said Augustina Trancoso, donning a red Make Chile Great Again cap.

Throughout the campaign, Kast portrayed Chile as a country descending into chaos and insecurity. He pledged to restore order and crack down on irregular immigration, as well as implementing sharp spending cuts.

Kast is an admirer of Donald Trump, likely to become a close ally, and his policies echo those of the US president. He has pledged a border wall on Chile's porous frontier with Peru and Bolivia, maximum-security prisons, and mass deportations of irregular migrants, many of whom are from Venezuela.

Chile is regarded as one of the safest and most stable countries in South America, but a rise in immigration and organized crime in recent years has concerned many voters. Kast regularly linked these issues, further deepening voters' anxieties.

His critics, however, argue that the threat of crime has been exaggerated, with some voters expressing skepticism over Kast's promises regarding immigration and security.

Kast's victory is significant not only for Chile but also reflects a broader shift to the right across Latin America, following similar trends in countries like Argentina and Ecuador.

The newly elected president will be inaugurated on March 11, 2026, where he aims to deliver on his promises to reshape Chile's approach to governance and security.