Chile Elects José Antonio Kast in Landslide, Signaling Shift Toward Security, Borders, and Free Markets

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) –

SANTIAGO, Chile (Worthy News) – Chilean voters on Sunday delivered a decisive victory to conservative lawmaker José Antonio Kast, electing him president in what is being described as the country’s most sweeping political shift since its return to democracy in 1990. Kast defeated Communist candidate Jeannette Jara by a wide margin, campaigning on restoring public security, enforcing immigration laws, and reviving economic growth.

With more than 80 percent of ballots counted, Kast secured roughly 58 percent of the vote, while Jara conceded defeat after receiving about 42 percent. The result marked one of the most lopsided presidential elections in modern Chilean history and reflected growing voter frustration over rising crime, unchecked illegal immigration, and economic stagnation.

Speaking to supporters in Santiago on Sunday night, Kast framed the election as a mandate to restore order and stability. “Without security, there is no peace. Without peace, there is no democracy. And without democracy, there is no freedom,” he said. “Chile will be free from crime, free from anguish, free from fear.”

Kast, 59, will take office in March, assuming leadership of a key global mining power that is the world’s top producer of copper and a major supplier of lithium, both critical to modern industry and energy production. A lawyer, former legislator, and devout Catholic, Kast ran a disciplined campaign focused almost entirely on public safety, border enforcement, and economic confidence, avoiding divisive social issues that hampered his previous presidential bids.

Crime and immigration dominated the election. Once considered one of Latin America’s safest countries, Chile has seen a sharp rise in violent crime in recent years, including carjackings, kidnappings, and organized gang activity. Many Chileans blame the surge on illegal migration, particularly from Venezuela, as criminal networks exploited porous borders.

Foreign-born residents now account for nearly 10 percent of Chile’s population, up from just over 2 percent in 2010, according to international data. Kast pledged to detain and deport undocumented migrants, bar them from public services and employment, and fortify Chile’s northern borders with walls, trenches, soldiers, and surveillance technology.

“Chile will no longer be the paradise of illegals,” Kast said earlier in the campaign, promising a firm enforcement approach similar to policies advanced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The election outcome places Chile firmly within a broader regional trend, as voters across Latin America increasingly reject progressive governments amid concerns over crime, inflation, and weakened institutions. Kast’s victory is expected to strengthen ties with the Trump administration, which has emphasized border security, national sovereignty, and economic nationalism.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio welcomed the result, saying Washington looked forward to working with Chile’s new leader on shared priorities, including public security, combating illegal immigration, and strengthening commercial relations.

Economically, Kast has pledged to lower corporate taxes, roll back regulations, and cut roughly $6 billion in government spending over his first 18 months in office. Supporters argue that restoring security and investor confidence is essential to reversing years of sluggish growth, which has slowed to around 2 percent annually after decades of robust expansion.

“Without security in the streets, there is no investment,” said Rodolfo Carter, an incoming senator from Kast’s Republican Party. “And without investment, there is no employment or prosperity.”

While Kast supports free trade and plans to maintain strong commercial ties with China, Chile’s largest trading partner, his allies stress that culturally and strategically the country belongs firmly within the Western democratic camp, with the United States as its primary ally.

Despite his decisive victory, Kast faces challenges ahead. His party lacks a majority in Congress, meaning significant reforms will require negotiation with centrist lawmakers. Still, the scale of his win suggests voters are willing to give him a chance to deliver on promises of order, growth, and restored national confidence.

As Chile enters a new political chapter, analysts say the election underscores a broader realignment across the Americas, one that prioritizes security, sovereignty, and economic realism over ideological experimentation.

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