Chileans Elect Conservative Candidate José Antonio Kast as President in Second Round
Chilean ultraconservative lawyer and presidential candidate José Antonio Kast secured 24% of the vote, leading his closest rival Communist party candidate Jeannette Jara by a significant margin. In the first round of voting, Kast's hardline stance on crime and immigration resonated with voters, while Jara garnered support from Chileans looking for an alternative.
Kast's campaign focused on cracking down on crime and immigration, echoing Donald Trump-style rhetoric to "put Chileans first." His most contentious proposal, Escudo Fronterizo (Border Shield), aims to construct miles of barriers and walls along the northern border to deter migrants. This plan has drawn criticism from some quarters, with more than half a million Venezuelans having arrived in Chile due to their country's economic collapse.
Kast's promise to create a hostile environment for immigrants mirrors that of El Salvador's authoritarian leader Nayib Bukele, who has imprisoned at least 2% of his adult population since 2022. Public security has become a major issue in the election, with assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion on the rise.
Despite this polarizing stance, Kast appears to be gaining traction. Radical libertarian candidate Johannes Kaiser and conservative Evelyn Matthei have publicly endorsed him, citing concerns about the left's "impoverishing" policies and the need for a sharp change of direction. A second-round runoff election is set for December 14, with Jara vying against Kast for the presidency.
While Kast's victory is being hailed by Trump officials in Washington, who see a conservative wave sweeping South America, it remains to be seen whether Chileans will embrace his radical agenda. Boric has congratulated both candidates on making it to the runoff, urging them to promote democracy and stability in the country.
Chilean ultraconservative lawyer and presidential candidate José Antonio Kast secured 24% of the vote, leading his closest rival Communist party candidate Jeannette Jara by a significant margin. In the first round of voting, Kast's hardline stance on crime and immigration resonated with voters, while Jara garnered support from Chileans looking for an alternative.
Kast's campaign focused on cracking down on crime and immigration, echoing Donald Trump-style rhetoric to "put Chileans first." His most contentious proposal, Escudo Fronterizo (Border Shield), aims to construct miles of barriers and walls along the northern border to deter migrants. This plan has drawn criticism from some quarters, with more than half a million Venezuelans having arrived in Chile due to their country's economic collapse.
Kast's promise to create a hostile environment for immigrants mirrors that of El Salvador's authoritarian leader Nayib Bukele, who has imprisoned at least 2% of his adult population since 2022. Public security has become a major issue in the election, with assassinations, kidnappings, and extortion on the rise.
Despite this polarizing stance, Kast appears to be gaining traction. Radical libertarian candidate Johannes Kaiser and conservative Evelyn Matthei have publicly endorsed him, citing concerns about the left's "impoverishing" policies and the need for a sharp change of direction. A second-round runoff election is set for December 14, with Jara vying against Kast for the presidency.
While Kast's victory is being hailed by Trump officials in Washington, who see a conservative wave sweeping South America, it remains to be seen whether Chileans will embrace his radical agenda. Boric has congratulated both candidates on making it to the runoff, urging them to promote democracy and stability in the country.
. A border shield that's just gonna put up barriers and walls? Won't that just push people further into the desert or somewhere else? It seems like he's playing right into Trump's hands, but is Chile really ready for a candidate who wants to "put Chileans first"? I'm also curious about Jeannette Jara's platform – what's she proposing as an alternative? And why did Bukele's example come up in this election? Is it because they're both seen as strong leaders by some people, or is there something more going on that we don't know? 
I mean, come on, 24% of the vote? That's like winning a heated game of 'Minecraft' with just 2 players left 
. I guess you could say Kast's Border Shield plan is like a digital wall that keeps his opponents at bay 
. Guess we'll just have to wait and see if Chile can avoid going down the same dark path 
And what about the human cost of all these walls and barriers? I've seen videos of migrants crossing the border with tears in their eyes... it's heartbreaking. 
I hope Kast can find a way to balance his campaign promises with being compassionate towards everyone, not just those who are already struggling. 
Chile needs someone who can bring people together, not drive 'em further apart.
. It's easy to say you're gonna "put Chileans first," but what about the rest of us? And what about all these radical libertarians endorsing him... are they just trying to stir up more division or is there something deeper going on here?
. If it does, Chileans will be the ones suffering. I'm not convinced he's got their best interests at heart...
. The notion that walls and barriers are the solution is a far cry from the more nuanced approach needed to address this complex problem 
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. Chile's electoral system is designed to promote peaceful transfers of power, and it remains to be seen whether Kast's radical agenda will resonate with the broader population 
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, and I think that's a major turn-off for people who actually care about humanity. Like, what's next? A wall around every single country in the world? 
It just feels like we're going back to some super dark place where people are only looking out for themselves. And don't even get me started on his anti-immigrant stance... it's like he's trying to erase an entire group of human beings 
. I'm all for making our borders secure, but at what cost? It feels like we're prioritizing security over actual justice and compassion. Can Chile really afford that kind of divide-and-conquer politics? 
That's some scary stuff. I'm all for keeping crime under control, but not at the expense of human rights, you know? 
I mean, I get it, crime is a big deal and all, but walling off the entire north border? That's just gonna drive up prices on goods and create more tension. And don't even get me started on how Kast's "put Chileans first" slogan sounds like some kinda xenophobic propaganda... 
Anyway, it'll be interesting to see if Chileans actually back this kind of hardline stance in the end. I mean, most people know that all borders need some kinda compromise and diplomacy, not just a wall and a strong arm 
. Now it seems like they're going back to a more... divisive approach 
. I just hope the next president can bring the country together and not tear it apart