Chile has witnessed a political earthquake, electing the far-right firebrand José Antonio Kast as its next president. This decisive victory, marking the most significant shift to the right since the end of Pinochet’s military dictatorship in 1990, followed an election campaign dominated by pressing themes of security, immigration, and crime. Kast, in his third bid for the presidency, comprehensively defeated the governing left-wing coalition candidate Jeanette Jara with over 58% of the vote.
For many, this outcome represents a desperate plea for order. In his triumphant address to supporters, a jubilant Kast declared, “Chile will once again be free from crime, free from anguish, free from fear.” He issued a stark warning to lawbreakers: “Criminals, delinquents – their lives are going to change. We’re going to look for them, find them, judge them and then we’re going to lock them up.” The fervent atmosphere at his Santiago gathering, adorned with Chilean flags and chants of “Make Chile Great Again,” underscored the yearning for change.
Augustina Trancoso, a supporter, expressed her joy: “I’m happy we can recover the country’s security and patriotism.” Another backer, Belem Valdivieso, lamented recent insecurity, hoping Kast would “focus on security” and restore the peaceful streets of yesteryear. Throughout his campaign, Kast painted a picture of a nation spiralling into chaos, vowing to restore order, implement stringent measures against irregular immigration, and enact sharp spending cuts. These pledges align with his open admiration for figures like Donald Trump, whose policies — including a proposed border wall with Peru and Bolivia, maximum-security prisons, and mass deportations of irregular migrants, particularly from Venezuela — he aims to emulate.
While Chile remains one of South America’s safer nations, a recent uptick in immigration and organised crime has fueled widespread voter anxiety. Kast frequently linked the two, a narrative that resonated deeply with his base. However, critics argue the problem is overstated. Javiera Carrasco, a Santiago voter who ultimately chose Jara, felt “a false sense of insecurity is becoming widespread,” noting that “in other countries, there are much worse things happening than here.” Indeed, Chile’s murder rate is currently falling, and some studies even suggest that foreign-born residents commit fewer crimes on average. Yet, the perception of dwindling safety was a powerful motivator for many of Kast’s supporters, like Max Struber, who warned, “We are transforming into Colombia, a lot of terrorism, thieves, robbery, society is very unsafe.”
Central to the **Kast Pinochet praise controversy** is his open admiration for Chile’s former dictator, Augusto Pinochet, whose 17-year rule (1973-1990) was marred by brutal human rights abuses, forced disappearances, and a US-backed military coup. Kast’s family ties to that era – his brother served as a minister during the dictatorship, and his father was a member of the Nazi party – further intensify the debate. Struber, reflecting on the Pinochet era, conceded “human rights abuses existed, that’s true. But as a government it was good, we used to have peace and tranquility,” indicating a willingness among some to overlook past atrocities for perceived order.
Outgoing left-wing President Gabriel Boric’s low approval ratings likely hampered Jara, who was seen by some as a “continuity vote.” Francisco Otero, a Kast supporter, felt that while neither candidate was perfect, a continuation of the previous government was “much worse.” Following the result, Jara graciously acknowledged that “democracy has spoken loud and clear” and wished Kast “success for the good of Chile.” However, her supporters, like Ricardo Herrera, who lived through Pinochet’s “brutal” dictatorship, fear that the election of **José Antonio Kast Chile president** heralds a troubling return to the country’s far-right past.
Skepticism also exists regarding the feasibility of Kast’s ambitious promises. Hector Lunes questioned his pledge to expel 360,000 undocumented migrants, calling it “physically impossible.” Beyond security, Kast holds firm anti-abortion stances, even in cases of rape, and has expressed skepticism towards environmental protection policies. His victory, however, is expected to be welcomed by investors due to his commitment to a free-market economic approach, aiming to shrink the state and deregulate industries.
This election, the **Chile presidential election 2025**, was notable for being the first in which voting was mandatory and registration automatic, leading some voters, like Claudio Sanjuez and Cintia Urrutia, to feel they were choosing the “least-worst” option. Sanjuez felt “Chile needs a change, and I clearly think Kast could be that alternative,” while Urrutia, hoping for the more “centrist” Jara, described both candidates as “opposite extremes.” Kast’s win fits a broader trend of **Latin America shift to the right**, with similar victories recently seen in Argentina, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. As **José Antonio Kast Chile president** prepares for his inauguration on March 11, 2026, his warnings to undocumented immigrants to leave before then underscore the profound changes he intends to bring to **Chile security and immigration politics**.
