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Following a conclusive second-round vote, far-right candidate José Antonio Kast has secured the presidential office in Chile.

A Commanding Triumph

After over 99% of votes tallied, Kast secured 58.17% of the votes, overcoming leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who obtained 41.83%.

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

Platform Centered On Law and Order and Immigration

Noted for his strong socially conservative views and admiration for the rule of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was primarily centered on promises to tackle rising insecurity and radically reduce migration.

He consistently blamed immigrants, especially the around 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for crime rates. During the campaign, he delivered an final demand for them to exit before the March 11 handover or face deportation.

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

Part of a Broader Trend

Many observers view Kast's win as part of a wider rightward wave in Latin America, coming after this year's electoral results in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other experts also view it as a part of the regular swing of power between left and right-wing leadership since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Leading Without a Clear Mandate

In spite of his decisive popular vote victory, Kast does not have an absolute majority in Congress, neither in the lower house or the Senate, even when various conservative parties are combined together.

This legislative reality could complicate his agenda, including a vow to cut public spending by $6 billion within a year and a half—a proposal for which he has yet to detailed concrete steps.

"We have numerous things about what a Kast presidency will operate that we don't know because he has not detailed how he will achieve them," commented a political science analyst.

The expert stated, "In terms of economic policy, it is very likely we will see spending cuts associated with the right. But where there is much less ambiguity is on public safety, because that has been his workhorse throughout the race."