Jose Antonio Kast won Chile’s presidential run-off with about 58% of the vote, defeating centre-left candidate Jeannette Jara. Kast campaigned on a tough security and immigration platform called the "Implacable Plan" and has taken conservative stances on social issues. His victory follows a fragmented first round and returns compulsory voting for the first time since 2012. A divided National Congress is likely to limit some of his most hardline proposals; he will be sworn in on March 11.
Jose Antonio Kast Wins Chile Presidency With Roughly 58% In Run-Off, Promises Tough Security Agenda
Jose Antonio Kast, presidential candidate for the Republican Party, takes a selfie after voting in Santiago, Chile, on December 14 [Esteban Felix/AP Photo]
Far-right politician Jose Antonio Kast has won Chile’s presidential run-off, securing about 58% of the vote and defeating former labour minister Jeannette Jara. The result hands Kast the presidency and marks a notable rightward shift in Chilean politics after four years of centre-left government.
Jara and the governing Unity for Chile coalition conceded shortly after polls closed. In a social media post she wrote:
"Democracy has spoken loud and clear. I have just spoken with President-elect [Kast] to wish him success for the good of Chile. To those who supported us, we will continue working to build a better life in our country — together and standing strong."
Kast hailed the victory as a broad mandate to pursue his agenda, telling supporters, "This is not a personal achievement, nor is it a party achievement. Chile won here, with the hope of no longer living in fear, of a Chile that works."
Campaign Platform and Policy Priorities
The 59-year-old leader of the Republican Party campaigned on a hardline security and immigration platform he called the "Implacable Plan." The proposals include stricter mandatory minimum sentences, expanded use of maximum-security prisons, isolation of alleged cartel leaders to cut off communications, and large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants. Kast framed the measures as a response to public concern about rising crime and migration.
Rooted in a socially conservative Catholic worldview, Kast has also taken firm positions on social issues, notably opposing abortion even in cases of rape. Those stances drew strong criticism from opponents and rights groups during the campaign.
Controversies and Background
Critics highlighted Kast’s past sympathetic remarks about former dictator General Augusto Pinochet, who led the 1973 coup and whose regime was responsible for widespread human-rights abuses. Kast has defended aspects of Pinochet’s government in the past but tempered some public references during this campaign to broaden his appeal.
Opponents also pointed to Kast’s family history: his father, Michael Martin Kast, was born in Germany and was previously a member of the Nazi Party before immigrating to Chile in 1950 — a fact frequently raised by critics in debates over Kast’s political character.
Electoral Dynamics And What Comes Next
This election was Kast’s third presidential bid and his first successful one. He placed second in the first round on November 16 with about 23.9% of the vote to Jara’s 26.8%, but consolidated broader right-leaning support in the run-off after rival candidates’ backers shifted to him.
The vote marked the return of compulsory voting in Chile for the first time since 2012; there are roughly 15.7 million eligible voters. Outgoing President Gabriel Boric, who beat Kast in 2021, saw his popularity decline to around 30% by the end of his term and was ineligible for re-election under Chilean law.
Despite Kast’s clear victory, he inherits a divided National Congress that is expected to constrain some of his more hardline proposals. Kast is scheduled to be sworn in on March 11.
Regional Reaction
Right-leaning leaders across the Americas publicly congratulated Kast. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and Argentina’s libertarian leader Javier Milei were among those to welcome the result, while Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa said a "new era is beginning for Chile and for the region." Observers note the result fits a wider pattern of recent conservative gains in parts of Latin America, though the ultimate direction of Chile’s policies will depend on how Kast negotiates with Congress and public institutions.
