🔗 Share this article Hardline Former Lawmaker José Antonio Kast Elected as Chile's New Head of State. In a decisive final ballot, ultra-conservative figure José Antonio Kast has clinched the top job in Chile. A Clear-Cut Victory With more than 99% of ballots counted, Kast secured 58.17% of the ballots, defeating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%. This represents Kast's third presidency, having earlier been lost by the incumbent president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 runoff. Platform Built On Security and Immigration Noted for his staunch Catholic views and regard for the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was largely centered on promises to combat increasing crime and significantly curb immigration. He frequently pointed to migrants, notably the roughly 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for crime rates. During the race, he gave an stern warning for them to exit before the inauguration or face deportation. His proposals included controversial measures such as building camps, high walls, electric fences, and strengthening the military presence on the northernmost frontier. Within a Regional Wave Many observers interpret Kast's success as part of a wider right-wing trend in Latin America, similar to this year's electoral results in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina. Yet, other experts also describe it as a part of the regular rotation of power between left-wing and right-wing governments since Chile's establishment of democracy in 1990. Governing Without a Solid Majority In spite of his decisive popular vote victory, Kast does not have an overall majority in the legislature, neither in the Chamber of Deputies nor the Senate, even when various rightwing parties are counted together. This legislative reality could complicate his agenda, including a promise to reduce public spending by a significant sum within 18 months—a proposal for which he has yet to provided concrete steps. "We have many aspects about how a Kast presidency will look like that remain unclear because he has not explained his methods for implement them," commented a political science professor. The expert added, "On the economy, it is highly probable we will see austerity policies associated with the right-wing. But the area with far less doubt is on law and order, because that has been his central theme across the campaign."