Chilean voters go to the polls Sunday in a high-stakes election seen as a test for left-leaning governments across Latin America. Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara and far-right leader José Antonio Kast lead polling, but neither is expected to clear the 50% mark, making a runoff likely. Analysts predict Kast would win a second round, signaling a major shift away from President Gabriel Boric’s administration amid rising crime and sluggish growth. The result could reverberate in Brazil and Colombia ahead of their 2026 elections.
Chile’s Election Could Signal a Regional Shift — Runoff Likely
Chilean voters go to the polls Sunday in a high-stakes election seen as a test for left-leaning governments across Latin America. Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara and far-right leader José Antonio Kast lead polling, but neither is expected to clear the 50% mark, making a runoff likely. Analysts predict Kast would win a second round, signaling a major shift away from President Gabriel Boric’s administration amid rising crime and sluggish growth. The result could reverberate in Brazil and Colombia ahead of their 2026 elections.
04:22 PM, 11/14/2025Politics
Chile’s election could signal a regional shift
Chilean voters head to the polls on Sunday in a closely watched presidential contest widely regarded as a bellwether for left-leaning governments across Latin America.
The Communist Party’s Jeannette Jara and far-right leader and former presidential candidate José Antonio Kast top opinion polls, but most forecasts indicate neither will reach the 50% threshold required to avoid a second-round runoff.
Analysts say Kast would likely win a runoff, which would represent a significant departure from the current administration led by President Gabriel Boric. Boric — who assumed office amid broad optimism — has seen approval ratings decline amid concerns about rising crime and slower economic growth, developments that have weakened support for the region’s so-called "Pink Tide" of leftist governments.
Observers in Brasília and Bogotá are watching closely: a rightward turn in Chile could reshape political rhetoric and alliances ahead of elections in Brazil and Colombia in 2026, and influence debates on trade, security and migration across the region.
Why this matters: A shift away from Chile’s current leftist government would have implications beyond its borders, potentially emboldening conservative forces and altering the balance of power in regional diplomacy.