Chile is holding a presidential runoff election, with voters selecting between far-right candidate José Antonio Kast and left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara. This election involves two candidates with distinct political platforms, and participation is compulsory for eligible citizens.
José Antonio Kast's Campaign and Background
José Antonio Kast, a career politician running for president for the third time, has focused his campaign on public security and migration. During a closing rally, themes such as migrant deportation and mass imprisonment of criminals were prominent. Voter concerns regarding national security have been a significant aspect of his appeal, with some citizens citing a perceived increase in crime, particularly involving migrants.
Kast's policy proposals include cutting corporation tax and reducing the public budget by $6 billion within his first 18 months, with plans to achieve this through dismissals of public employees hired during the current administration.
Kast is the son of Michael Kast, a German immigrant and former Nazi Party member who settled in Chile in 1950. His brother, Miguel, served as a minister during Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship. José Antonio Kast has previously expressed support for the Pinochet regime and participated in student politics advocating for its continuation. In his current campaign, he has largely avoided social issues such as same-sex marriage and abortion, which were controversial in his prior presidential bids.
Jeannette Jara's Campaign and Background
Jeannette Jara, a 51-year-old member of the Communist Party, previously served as an undersecretary in Michelle Bachelet's government and as labor minister under current President Gabriel Boric. In her role as labor minister, she led pension reform initiatives, oversaw increases in the national minimum wage, and contributed to reducing the length of the working week.
Jara's campaign platform emphasizes affordability, proposing a universal core income of approximately $800 per month, funded through gradual minimum-wage increases, reduced electricity bills, and state savings contributions aimed at assisting 25- to 40-year-olds with home purchases. She joined the youth wing of Chile's Communist Party at age 14 and has been a member of its central committee since 2015.
Key Societal Issues
Concerns about crime have risen across Chile, with a 2024 Gallup report indicating Chile ranked sixth globally for fear of walking alone at night, despite being considered one of Latin America's safer nations. Homicides increased in 2023 but have since shown a decline. Illegal migration has also become a prominent issue, largely due to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of individuals fleeing economic conditions in Venezuela since 2018.
Election Outlook
Pre-election polls indicate José Antonio Kast as the leading candidate. A potential victory for Kast would represent a shift in Chilean leadership and align with a broader regional trend observed in nations such as Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador, where center-right or right-wing political figures have recently gained influence.