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Following a conclusive second-round vote, ultra-conservative politician José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidency in Chile.

A Clear-Cut Win

With more than 99% of ballots counted, Kast garnered 58.17% of the ballots, defeating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who received 41.83%.

This represents Kast's third bid for the presidency, having earlier been lost by the sitting president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round.

Platform Focused On Security and Immigration

Noted for his unwavering Catholic views and admiration for the period of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was mostly focused on promises to address rising violence and drastically restrict immigration.

He repeatedly pointed to migrants, especially the approximately 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for security issues. Throughout the election cycle, he issued an ultimatum for them to leave before the inauguration or face deportation.

His policy ideas included controversial measures such as erecting camps, high walls, security fences, and increasing the armed forces presence on the northernmost border.

Part of a Broader Trend

Several observers interpret Kast's victory as part of a wider right-wing wave in South America, similar to recent political results in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Nevertheless, other analysts further frame it as a continuation of the regular alternation of power between left-wing and right governments since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990.

Governing Without a Clear Mandate

In spite of his decisive electoral win, Kast is not expected to hold an clear majority in parliament, not in the Chamber of Deputies nor the Senate, even if all right-leaning parties are grouped together.

This legislative reality might challenge his agenda, such as a pledge to slash public spending by billions within a year and a half—a proposal for which he has yet to detailed specifics.

"We have numerous aspects about how a Kast presidency will be that we don't know because he has not said how he will implement them," said a political science analyst.

The professor continued, "Regarding economic policy, it is almost certain we will see austerity policies common for the right. However the area with far less doubt is on law and order, because that has been his flagship issue throughout the campaign."