Chile's Political Shift
José Antonio Kast has been elected as Chile's next president. His victory followed a campaign focusing on security, immigration, and crime.
Candidate Profile and Political Stance
Mr. Kast is a conservative politician who has expressed admiration for General Augusto Pinochet, a former right-wing dictator of Chile. Pinochet's 17-year military rule, established after a US-backed coup, involved widespread human rights abuses. Mr. Kast's family background includes his German-born father's past membership in the Nazi Party and his brother's service as a minister during the Pinochet regime. Some supporters of Mr. Kast have stated that Chile experienced greater peace under Pinochet's government. Following his election, Mr. Kast stated that his proposed 'emergency government' would not be 'authoritarian'.
Regional Political Context
Chile's election marks a broader trend in Latin America, where several countries, including Argentina, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Panama, have recently shifted from left-leaning to right-leaning governments. Upcoming elections in Peru, Colombia, and Brazil are anticipated. Mr. Kast's victory contributes to a growing number of conservative administrations in the region. Factors contributing to these regional shifts include economic crises and public reactions against perceived corruption or internal conflicts within leftist governments. In Chile, the shift was notably influenced by public discourse around immigration and crime.
Migration Policy and Public Sentiment
Mr. Kast's campaign pledges included the construction of a border wall and large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants. He communicated that undocumented individuals should depart before his inauguration to preserve any future re-entry opportunities. This message aligned with public sentiment in a country experiencing significant growth in its foreign-born population. By 2023, Chile's non-national population reached nearly two million, representing a 46% increase since 2018. Approximately 336,000 of these are estimated to be undocumented, with many originating from Venezuela. This demographic shift has generated public concern. A supporter of Mr. Kast, Jeremías Alonso, stated that Chile was unprepared for the recent immigration influx and clarified that Mr. Kast's position advocates for legal entry for foreign workers, arguing that undocumented migrants burden public services. Mr. Alonso also noted perceived increases in crime, drug addiction, and security issues in his community related to irregular immigration.
Crime and Security Initiatives
Mr. Kast attributes an increase in crime to immigration. Public concerns regarding crime persist, despite a decrease in murder rates since their peak in 2022 and studies indicating that migrant populations may commit fewer crimes on average. Voters have identified organized crime, drug trafficking, thefts, and carjackings as factors contributing to a sense of insecurity. Mr. Kast has stated that his administration will welcome migrants who adhere to the law, imprison criminals, and restore public order. His approach is expected to involve robust measures, including military deployment to the border and communication of anti-crime initiatives via social media. However, large-scale deportations face practical challenges, such as Venezuela's policy of not accepting deportees from Chile, which has restricted past deportation efforts. Mr. Kast's administration may aim for voluntary departures through its rhetoric, though the effectiveness of this approach on hundreds of thousands of irregular migrants remains uncertain.
Impact on Irregular Migrants and Economy
The situation for irregular migrants residing in Chile is subject to potential changes. Gabriel Funez, a Venezuelan waiter, entered Chile irregularly four years ago due to economic conditions in his home country. He has applied for a visa and possesses a temporary ID for tax purposes, but awaits a response. His wages are currently managed through a friend's bank account. Mr. Funez expressed concerns regarding potential deportation and an increase in xenophobia, noting public discussions about migrants. He stated that approximately 90% of his restaurant's staff are migrants. Businesses like Carlos Alberto Cossio's salteña enterprise, which relies on migrant workers, may face implications from new immigration policies, potentially leading to opposition from sectors dependent on foreign labor.