Archive · 15 Dec 2025
Kast wins Chile's presidential runoff
Chile just had a very important vote for president.
The winner is Jose Antonio Kast, who is from the far-right.
He beat Jeannette Jara, who is from the left.
Many people in Chile are worried about crime and want the country to be safer.
Kast says he will make the country more secure and bring order.
He has some strict plans to fight crime and control immigration.
Jara also wanted to fight crime but also promised to help people with social programs.
This was the first time everyone had to vote, and there were still some people who hadn't decided who to choose.
Kast's win is a big change for Chile, as it's the first time in a long time that a far-right candidate has won the presidency.
Some people are happy, and some people are worried because Kast has some very strict views on crime, immigration, and social issues.
Jose Antonio Kast, a far-right candidate, won the Chilean presidential runoff against leftist Jeannette Jara.
With 25.37% of votes counted, Kast secured 59.83% compared to Jara's 40.17%.
Crime and security were the defining issues of the election, with both candidates focusing on these topics in their campaigns.
Kast's hard-line proposals against crime and immigration gained significant support, while Jara emphasized social programs and tough crime policies.
This was the first election with mandatory voting, adding uncertainty with about 20% of voters still undecided or considering blank ballots.
- Who
- Chilean voters
- What
- Presidential runoff election between Jose Antonio Kast and Jeannette Jara
- When
- Sunday, December 14
- Where
- Chile
- Why
- To determine the next president of Chile, with a significant shift to the right expected
Jose Antonio Kast
Jeannette Jara
Crime and Security
Jose Antonio Kast
Kast focuses on restoring order, security, and trust, promising to combat crime and curb migration.
Jeannette Jara
Jara emphasizes tough crime policies while also advocating for strong social programs.
Economic Reforms
Jose Antonio Kast
Kast's market-friendly policies are expected to boost investor confidence and accelerate economic reforms, including deregulation and changes to the pension system and capital markets.
Jeannette Jara
Jara's stance on economic reforms is not explicitly detailed in the articles.
- Candidates
- Jose Antonio Kast (far-right) and Jeannette Jara (leftist)
- Voter Turnout
- 15.6 million registered voters
- Poll Closing Time
- 6 p.m. local time (2100 GMT)
- First Round Results
- Jara: 26.85%, Kast: 23.92%
- Key Issue
- Crime and security
- Mandatory Voting
- First election with automatic registration and fines for non-voting
- Economic Impact
- Kast's potential victory expected to boost investor confidence
- Undecided Voters
- About 20% of voters still undecided or considering blank ballots
- Early Results
- With 25.37% of votes counted, Kast: 59.83%, Jara: 40.17%
- Kast's Age
- 59 years
- Kast's Party
- Republican Party
- Kast's Previous Elections
- Lost the 2021 election to Gabriel Boric by nearly 10 points
- Kast's Security Plan
- Implacable Plan: mass deportations, harsher sentencing, isolating cartel leaders
- Kast's Social Views
- Opposes abortion even in cases of rape
- Kast's Father
- Former Nazi Party member who emigrated to Chile in 1950
- Kast's Political Views
- Praised Chile's former dictator, Augusto Pinochet
Sources
Chile votes in presidential race expected to lurch country to the right
Chile Votes In Presidential Race Expected To Lurch Country To The Right
Right-wing candidate Kast takes early lead in Chile’s presidential election
Right-wing candidate Kast takes commanding lead in Chile’s presidential election
Chile elects Jose Antonio Kast, deepening regional shift to law-and-order politics
Chile elects Kast as president, deepening regional shift to law-and-order politics
Chile elects most right-wing president in 35 years as Jose Antonio Kast sweeps polls
Who is Jose Antonio Kast? Far-right politician wins Chile presidential election
Far-Right Candidate Jose Antonio Kast Wins Chile Presidential Election
Far-Right Candidate Jose Antonio Kast Wins Chilean Presidential Election
Kast wins Chile’s presidency, deepening regional shift to law-and-order politics
Chile elects most right-wing president of post-Pinochet era
Far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast wins Chilean presidential election
Chile elects Kast as president in sharp rightward shift