José Antonio Kast has been elected as the next president of Chile, following an election campaign focused on themes of security, immigration, and crime. Kast secured over 58% of the vote, defeating Jeanette Jara, the candidate from the governing left-wing coalition. This election marks a significant shift in Chile's political landscape since the end of its military dictatorship in 1990.
Kast's Platform and Background
During his campaign, Kast presented Chile as experiencing increasing challenges related to order and security. He pledged to implement measures aimed at restoring order, addressing irregular immigration, and introducing sharp spending cuts. Specific proposals included the construction of a border wall along Chile's frontier with Peru and Bolivia, the establishment of maximum-security prisons, and the mass deportation of irregular migrants.
Kast has expressed admiration for former US President Donald Trump and has openly praised Chile's former right-wing dictator, Augusto Pinochet. His brother served as a minister during Pinochet's dictatorship, and his father was a member of the Nazi party. Pinochet's 17-year military dictatorship, which began with a US-backed military coup in 1973, was characterized by human rights abuses, forced disappearances, and the implementation of free-market economic policies.
In his initial address as president-elect, Kast stated, "Chile will once again be free from crime, free from anguish, free from fear." He further added, "Criminals, delinquents - their lives are going to change. We're going to look for them, find them, judge them and then we're going to lock them up."
Voter Perspectives
Chile, historically one of South America's more stable countries, has experienced an increase in immigration and organized crime in recent years, which has been a concern for some voters. Kast frequently connected these issues in his campaign rhetoric. Supporters gathering in Santiago expressed satisfaction with the results. Augustina Trancoso, a voter, stated, "I'm happy we can recover the country's security and patriotism." Another supporter, Belem Valdivieso, remarked, "In Chile, you used to be able to walk the streets peacefully, lately we've experienced problems with insecurity. I'm hoping his promises will be kept and he'll focus on security." Max Struber, another voter, said, "We are transforming into Colombia, a lot of terrorism, thieves, robbery, society is very unsafe. It may sound harsh to say it, but we need the government to continue Pinochet's work. Human rights abuses existed, that's true. But as a government it was good, we used to have peace and tranquility."
However, critics have suggested that the extent of the security problem may be exaggerated. Javiera Carrasco, a voter who supported Jara despite agreeing with some of Kast's policies, commented that she felt "like a false sense of insecurity is becoming widespread." She added, "In other countries, there are much worse things happening than here. It just doesn't add up for me." Data indicates that Chile's murder rate is currently decreasing, and some studies suggest that foreign-born residents commit fewer crimes on average.
Opponent's Reaction and Public Concern
Jeanette Jara, Kast's opponent, conceded the election, stating that "democracy has spoken loud and clear" and wished Kast "success for the good of Chile." She added, "We will continue working to advance a better life in our country." Jara's campaign may have been affected by her association with the outgoing left-wing President Gabriel Boric, who had low approval ratings.
Some of Jara's supporters expressed concerns about the implications of Kast's presidency. Ricardo Herrera, who lived through Pinochet's rule, described it as "brutal" and mentioned that "Kast's family helped the dictator Augusto Pinochet." Others remained skeptical about the feasibility of Kast's campaign promises. Hector Lunes, a voter, questioned the possibility of deporting 360,000 undocumented migrants, stating, "He won't be able to do that. It's physically impossible."