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In a decisive final ballot, far-right figure José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidency in Chile.

A Resounding Victory

With more than 99% of polling stations reporting, Kast garnered 58.17% of the vote, beating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who obtained 41.83%.

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

Platform Built On Security and Immigration

Noted for his unwavering Catholic views and admiration for the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was mostly centered on promises to tackle growing insecurity and drastically restrict migration.

He consistently cited foreigners, particularly the around 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for crime rates. During the campaign, he delivered an ultimatum for them to leave before the new term begins or face deportation.

His proposals envisioned Trump-inspired measures such as building camps, barriers, electric fences, and strengthening the military presence on the northernmost border.

Amid a Broader Trend

Several commentators interpret Kast's win as aligning with a broader conservative trend in Latin America, coming after this year's electoral wins in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other analysts further view it as a extension of the predictable swing of power between left-wing and right administrations since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Ruling Lacking a Solid Mandate

Despite his clear electoral triumph, Kast is not expected to have an absolute majority in Congress, not in the lower house nor the Senate, even when various right-leaning parties are grouped together.

This political landscape might challenge his policy goals, such as a pledge to cut public spending by billions within a year and a half—a proposal for which he has yet to offered a clear explanation.

"We have several things about what a Kast presidency will operate that are uncertain because he has not said how he will implement them," said a political science expert.

The analyst stated, "On the economy, it is almost certain we will see spending cuts common for the right-wing. However where there is considerably less ambiguity is on security policy, because that has been his workhorse across the campaign."