Jose Antonio Kast has moderated his campaign rhetoric after winning 58% of the vote and pledged to form a 'national unity' government when he takes office in March. He met with outgoing president Gabriel Boric and rival party leaders and stressed continuity of institutions. Kast still faces criticism over past praise for Augusto Pinochet and media reports about his father's alleged ties to the Nazi party; regional leaders including Gustavo Petro and Nicolas Maduro condemned him. Chile's foreign minister protested what he called unacceptable interference in Chilean affairs.
Chile President-Elect Softens Tone, Pledges 'National Unity' After Landslide Win
Chile's president-elect Jose Antonio Kast and his wife in Santiago, the day after the presidential runoff election (Javier TORRES)(Javier TORRES/AFP/AFP)
Jose Antonio Kast, Chile's president-elect, abandoned much of his campaign's far-right, anti-immigrant rhetoric and pledged to lead a government of 'national unity' after winning 58% of the vote in Sunday’s election.
A Tone of Conciliation
Meeting with outgoing president Gabriel Boric and leaders of rival parties, Kast said he intends to represent all Chileans when he assumes office in March. 'We all share concerns about security, health, education and housing,' the 59-year-old father of nine said, adding that his administration would seek broader consensus on core issues.
'This is not one person's or one party's government. It will be broader to achieve consensus on fundamental issues,' Kast said, emphasizing continuity of the state and its institutions.
Policy Background
During the campaign Kast had pledged to deport more than 300,000 migrants — mostly Venezuelans — and to toughen measures on crime and border control. Since his victory, however, he has adopted a more conciliatory public tone, stressing institutional continuity and the protection of democratic order.
Regional Backlash and Controversy
Kast faces criticism from Latin America's left-wing leaders over his past praise for Augusto Pinochet and media investigations into his family background. Press reports say his German-born father served in World War II and was linked to the Nazi party; Kast maintains his father was a forced conscript who did not support Nazism.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called Kast 'Hitler's son' and said he would not shake his hand, while Venezuela's Nicolas Maduro warned Kast to 'respect Venezuelans' even as he criticized Kast's political positions. Chile's foreign minister, Alberto van Klaveren, lodged a formal protest, calling Petro's remarks an 'unacceptable' intrusion into Chile's domestic affairs.
Diplomatic Moves and Context
Kast was expected to travel to Buenos Aires to meet Argentine libertarian leader Javier Milei, signaling the start of regional diplomacy. Observers note that, despite sharp left-right choices in recent campaigns, Chilean voters have alternated between left and right administrations since 2010, reflecting a broader centrist tendency in practice.
As Kast prepares to take office in March, the immediate challenges for his incoming government include addressing public security, migration pressures, and rebuilding trust across a politically divided electorate.
