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Following a conclusive runoff election, ultra-conservative politician José Antonio Kast has secured the top job in Chile.

A Commanding Win

With over 99% of polling stations reporting, Kast garnered 58.17% of the vote, overcoming leftist contender Jeannette Jara, who obtained 41.83%.

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

Agenda Centered On Law and Order and Immigration

Known for his strong Catholic views and regard for the period of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was largely centered on promises to tackle growing crime and radically reduce immigration.

He repeatedly cited migrants, notably the around 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for crime rates. During the election cycle, he gave an ultimatum for them to exit before the inauguration or face expulsion.

His proposals envisioned controversial measures such as erecting detention centers, barriers, electric fences, and increasing the army presence on the northernmost frontier.

Part of a Broader Trend

Numerous observers view Kast's success as fitting into a larger rightward wave in South America, coming after this year's electoral outcomes in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other analysts additionally view it as a continuation of the regular swing of power between left and right-wing administrations since Chile's establishment of democracy in 1990.

Ruling Without a Clear Majority

In spite of his clear electoral triumph, Kast does not have an overall majority in Congress, not in the lower house nor the Senate, even when all right-leaning parties are counted together.

This political situation might hinder his policy goals, such as a promise to cut public spending by billions within 18 months—a proposal for which he has yet to detailed a clear explanation.

"We have many questions about what a Kast presidency will be that remain unclear because he has not said the way he will do them," said a political science analyst.

The analyst stated, "Regarding economic policy, it is very likely we will see spending cuts common for the right-wing. But where there is far less doubt is on security policy, because that has been his flagship issue across the campaign."