🔗 Share this article Hardline Former Congressman J.A. Kast Elected as Chile New President. Following a conclusive second-round vote, ultra-conservative figure José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidency in Chile. A Clear-Cut Win With more than 99% of votes tallied, Kast won 58.17% of the votes, beating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%. This marks Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having in the past been beaten by the sitting president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 runoff. Platform Focused On Law and Order and Immigration Recognized for his staunch Catholic views and praise for the period of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was mostly focused on promises to tackle growing insecurity and radically curb migration. He consistently pointed to migrants, particularly the around 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for security issues. During the campaign, he gave an final demand for them to leave before the March 11 handover or face expulsion. His plans envisioned controversial measures such as building camps, high walls, perimeter fencing, and bolstering the military presence on the northernmost border. Part of a Regional Shift Several commentators interpret Kast's victory as aligning with a larger conservative trend in the region, coming after this year's electoral outcomes in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. Yet, other analysts additionally frame it as a part of the regular alternation of power between left and right governments since Chile's establishment of democracy in 1990. Governing Without a Clear Majority Despite his decisive popular vote victory, Kast does not have an clear majority in the legislature, not in the Chamber of Deputies nor the Senate, even if all right-leaning parties are grouped together. This political situation could challenge his policy goals, such as a pledge to slash public spending by a significant sum within a year and a half—a plan for which he has yet to offered concrete steps. "There are numerous aspects about what a Kast presidency will operate that remain unclear because he has not detailed the way he will do them," commented a political science professor. The expert added, "On the economy, it is very likely we will see adjustment measures common for the right-wing. But where there is far less ambiguity is on security policy, because that has been his flagship issue during the race."