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After a definitive second-round vote, ultra-conservative candidate José Antonio Kast has clinched the top job in Chile.

A Clear-Cut Triumph

With more than 99% of ballots counted, Kast garnered 58.17% of the ballots, beating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who received 41.83%.

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

Platform Built On Security and Migration

Known for his strong Catholic views and admiration for the rule of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was mostly built on promises to address growing violence and radically curb migration.

He repeatedly cited migrants, particularly the roughly 330,000 illegal individuals in Chile, for public safety problems. Throughout the campaign, he delivered an final demand for them to leave before the inauguration or face expulsion.

His proposals envisioned U.S.-style measures such as erecting holding facilities, high walls, electric fences, and increasing the army presence on the northernmost frontier.

Part of a Regional Trend

Many commentators see Kast's victory as aligning with a larger rightward shift in Latin America, similar to recent electoral outcomes in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other pundits additionally describe it as a continuation of the established alternation of power between left and right-wing administrations since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Ruling Lacking a Strong Mandate

Despite his sweeping popular vote triumph, Kast is not expected to command an clear majority in parliament, not in the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, even if various rightwing parties are counted together.

This legislative reality may challenge his plans, including a promise to reduce public spending by $6 billion within 18 months—a proposal for which he has not offered a clear explanation.

"There are several aspects about how a Kast administration will be that remain unclear because he has not detailed his methods for do them," commented a political professor.

The analyst continued, "In terms of fiscal matters, it is almost certain we will see adjustment measures typical of the right. But the area with far less uncertainty is on security policy, because that has been his central theme throughout the campaign."