Kast wins Chile’s Presidential Race!
Santiago, Dec 14 (EFE).-
Far-right candidate José Antonio Kast won Chile’s presidential runoff decisively on Sunday, becoming the first politician openly sympathetic to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973–1989) to reach power since the country’s return to democracy.
Kast, an ultraliberal conservative and the son of German immigrants, secured 58.1% of the vote, compared with 41.8% for center-left candidate Jeannette Jara, in an election held under mandatory voting for the first time in a presidential race. Blank and spoiled ballots rose sharply compared with the first round.
In his first speech as president-elect, Kast thanked God for his victory and asked for wisdom and temperance ahead of a government set to begin March 11.
“Nothing would be possible if we did not have God, and that is something we cannot fail to recognize,” Kast said. “For those of us who have faith, nothing happens in life that is not directly related to God. And I say that for me this is an honor and a tremendous responsibility — the broad mandate we have received today.”
Kast called for national unity and pledged to govern “for all Chileans.” He thanked supporters from across the right, including libertarian Johannes Kaiser and conservative leader Evelyn Matthei, and praised the “courage” of his rival, urging respect despite political differences.
He reiterated his hard-line positions on curbing irregular migration and violence but struck a more measured tone, urging patience and cautioning that reforms “cannot be done in a short time.”
Jara, a communist lawmaker and former labor minister, said she would continue fighting to defend progressive and social rights gains and pledged a “constructive and demanding” opposition.
“We will be firm in protecting what has been achieved,” she said, urging parties in the broad and historically diverse coalition that backed her candidacy to “maintain unity” in the face of the far right.
“We will continue together and standing, as we always have,” Jara said. She said she had called Kast to concede defeat, as did President Gabriel Boric, who promised an “orderly transition” and to hand over “a country that is moving forward.” Boric and Kast are scheduled to meet Monday at the presidential palace, La Moneda.
The inauguration is set for March 11, by which time Kast is expected to have announced his Cabinet.
Kast’s victory prompted congratulations from far-right leaders abroad, reinforcing what analysts see as a broader rightward shift in South America that aligns with the political current associated with U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking on behalf of the White House, said Chile under Kast would advance shared priorities such as strengthening public security, controlling illegal immigration and revitalizing bilateral trade, and expressed readiness to work closely with the incoming administration.
Argentina’s President Javier Milei was more effusive, expressing “enormous joy” over the victory of his “friend” and pledging to work together so that “America embraces the ideas of liberty.”
Presidents Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, Santiago Peña of Paraguay and Rodrigo Chaves of Costa Rica also expressed interest in strengthening ties.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva struck a more institutional tone, praising the transparency and orderliness of the election, wishing Kast “much success” and reaffirming Brazil’s commitment to strong bilateral relations and to preserving South America as a “zone of peace.”
Colombian President Gustavo Petro offered a dissenting note, warning that “winds of death are blowing” across the region and calling on countries of the former Gran Colombia to “resist with Bolívar’s sword held high.”
From Europe, one of the first to congratulate Kast was Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain’s far-right Vox party, which is linked to international conservative networks. EFE
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