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In a decisive second-round vote, far-right figure José Antonio Kast has secured the presidential office in Chile.

A Commanding Triumph

With over 99% of votes tallied, Kast secured 58.17% of the votes, defeating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who received 41.83%.

This signifies Kast's third bid for the presidency, having previously been defeated by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round.

Campaign Built On Security and Migration

Recognized for his unwavering Catholic views and admiration for the period of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was mostly centered on promises to address increasing crime and radically reduce migration.

He consistently blamed foreigners, especially the approximately 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for crime rates. Throughout the election cycle, he issued an stern warning for them to leave before the March 11 handover or face expulsion.

His policy ideas envisioned Trump-inspired measures such as building detention centers, high walls, perimeter fencing, and bolstering the military presence on the northern border.

Part of a Regional Shift

Many observers see Kast's win as fitting into a broader rightward wave in South America, similar to this year's political results in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other experts additionally view it as a continuation of the established alternation of power between left-wing and right-wing leadership since Chile's establishment of democracy in 1990.

Ruling Lacking a Strong Mandate

In spite of his decisive popular vote triumph, Kast is not expected to command an overall majority in the legislature, neither in the lower house nor the Senate, even when all rightwing parties are counted together.

This legislative reality may challenge his policy goals, such as a pledge to reduce public spending by $6 billion within a year and a half—a proposal for which he has not offered concrete steps.

"We have numerous things about what a Kast government will operate that remain unclear because he has not detailed his methods for implement them," said a political science professor.

The professor continued, "Regarding economic policy, it is highly probable we will see austerity policies associated with the right-wing. But the area with far less ambiguity is on public safety, because that has been his flagship issue across the race."