Jose Antonio Kast’s victory in Chile’s presidential run-off election represents a profound, if deeply unfortunate, historical moment of a country moving towards far-right leadership. The Republican Party candidate won with 58 percent of the votes, beating left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara. This electoral success has the potential to trigger a dramatic shift in Chilean polity. Kast, citing former U.S. President Donald Trump as an inspiration, will assume office on March 11, 2026.
Kast’s election is notable for being a resurgence of right-wing politics, as he becomes the most right-wing president since Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship. His campaign was notable for his pledge to deport all undocumented migrants that came across his path, while keeping an iron fist approach on crime. Kast has indicated he’s preparing to assume a leadership role. His administration is sure to resuscitate conservative values that resonate with a significant chunk of the Chilean electorate.
A Controversial Candidate
Born in 1966 in Santiago to German immigrants, Kast has been heavily criticized for his family’s ties to Nazis. Though Kast says his dad was a coerced conscript, the allegations have haunted his political life. Political career He trained as a lawyer and was elected to politics in 1996 as a Buin councilman. A former cop, he’s advanced in politics by making adherence to law and order sacred. This tactic appeals to voters who are understandably alarmed by rising crime.
Unsurprisingly, Kast’s campaign rhetoric focused on national security and immigration control. He proposed building a police force inspired by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to bolster efforts against undocumented migrants. According to political analyst Patricio Navia, “According to estimations, there might be up to 400,000 undocumented immigrants,” indicating the scale of the challenge facing his administration. Navia cautions that “It will be impossible to expel all of them from the country,” suggesting that Kast may need to balance his harsh campaign promises with the reality of economic contributions made by many immigrants.
Beyond immigration, Kast has stood decisively on social issues. He’s unflinchingly against abortion and same-sex marriage. His other hardline positions include wanting to repeal Chile’s limited abortion rights and banning the sale of the morning-after pill. His positions have generated an equal measure of ardent praise and rabid dissent.
The Path Ahead
Kast’s presidency presents a number of hurdles as he works to turn his campaign promises into new policies. His threats to use a state of siege in the Araucania region open the door to massive violations of human rights. This state of affairs has further exacerbated police-state hostilities that exist between the settler government and indigenous communities. Supporters and sympathetic observers argue that Kast’s unusual electoral victory reflects a deep and abiding longing for change. It has exposed staggering, often racialized rifts in Chilean society.
Consuelo Thiers, a political analyst, remarked, “Kast is the first president since the end of the dictatorship to have openly supported Pinochet.” This connection to such a divisive history would only exacerbate any challenges he might face in his efforts to govern successfully under a 21st century, democratic paradigm. She further noted that “Former President Sebastian [Pinera] voted against Pinochet in the 1988 referendum and embraced some progressive policies, such as the legalization of same-sex marriage.”
As Kast prepares for his presidency, many Chileans are looking for drastic changes that could improve their lives after years of political dissatisfaction. Thiers stated, “Many people see in these candidates the promise of a drastic change that could significantly improve their lives.” At the same time, she warned, voters are likely to punish him if he goes too far off the mark from what he pitched on the campaign trail.
Implications for Chilean Society
The election of Jose Antonio Kast may foreshadow broader regional trends towards conservatism as countries in Latin America grapple with economic crises and security issues. Thiers emphasized that “These leaders have largely come to power on similar promises, particularly the pledge to repair economies in severe distress.” With organized crime growing increasingly powerful across the region, security has become a major issue among the electorate.
Political experts, like Navia, urge caution. Indeed, the authors caution against reading this election as a decisive step towards a full illiberal governance. He noted, “I would not suggest that the countries are becoming more conservative or illiberal.” Rather, he said, voters are reacting to knowns like this to understandable grievances with the status quo, even with resentments against decades of left wing governance.
Kast’s victory represents a significant moment in Chilean history, as well as an opportunity for reflection on the country’s political landscape. His administration will certainly be tested by many intractable challenges. It will take a leading role to tackle injustices against immigrants, crime against women and social rights.
