Right-wing Kast defeats leftist rival to become Chile's president

Chile elected conservative former lawmaker José Antonio Kast as president on Sunday, defeating the ruling centre-left coalition candidate in a decisive victory that will usher in the country's most right-wing government since the end of military rule 35 years ago.

Kast won 58.2% of the vote, securing a majority on pledges to crack down on crime and illegal immigration and to revive Chile's stagnant economy.

"Chile needs order, order in the streets, in the state, in the priorities that have been lost," Kast said in his victory speech.

When supporters began booing his rival, communist candidate Jeannette Jara, Kast immediately stopped them, saying "Respect!" — a contrast with the aggressive rhetoric that marked his campaign.

Kast said his victory gave him a "broad mandate" that carries "an enormous responsibility."

"We are inviting you on a journey to recover values for a proper and healthy life," he said. "It won't be easy. It requires everyone's commitment."

Jara urged her supporters not to feel discouraged. "It is in defeat that we learn the most," she said at a public square in Santiago.

The former labour minister in President Gabriel Boric's government received 41.8% of the vote.

Deeply polarised election

Kast's victory marks a turning point for Chile, making him the first radical-right-wing president since the country returned to democracy in 1990 following General Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. Until now, power has alternated between centre-left and centre-right coalitions.

The two candidates presented opposing visions for Chile, with significant differences in the role of the state, the economy and social issues.

Jara, a longtime Communist Party member who promoted social policies in Boric's government, comes from a working-class family that opposed the dictatorship.

Kast's conservatism includes opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage. His views have been compared to those of imprisoned former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and have proved a stumbling block in his two previous unsuccessful presidential bids.

This time, rising irregular immigration and organised crime during Boric's term dominated the campaign, driving voter support for hardline security measures.

Regional trend

Kast's victory is part of a broader pattern of recent Latin American elections ousting incumbent governments and bringing right-wing leaders to power, from Argentina to Bolivia.

Argentine President Javier Milei, a libertarian close to US President Donald Trump, was the first to congratulate Kast.

"The left is going backwards," Milei wrote on social media, sharing a map of South America showing the recent rightward shift.

The Trump administration also celebrated the result. "Under his leadership, we are confident that Chile will move forward on shared priorities, such as strengthening public safety, ending illegal immigration, and revitalising our trade relationship," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.