Chileans are poised to make a pivotal decision in their nation’s democratic history as they prepare to vote in a presidential runoff next month. The election pits hard-right candidate José Antonio Kast against communist Jeannette Jara, presenting a stark ideological divide. Neither candidate secured the required 50% in the initial vote, but Kast enters the second round with momentum after right-wing parties garnered an unprecedented 70% of the vote. Kast, an ultraconservative lawyer, has campaigned on promises to deport undocumented immigrants and restore order, while Jara represents a leftist vision focused on social welfare and progressive policies. The election has particularly high stakes for Chile’s 1.5 million immigrants, including hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who fled their homeland’s socialist regime. Many immigrants, ineligible to vote, face the prospect of deportation under Kast’s proposed policies. The runoff also reflects broader regional trends, as Latin America shifts toward right-wing leadership amid rising concerns over crime and economic instability. Kast’s admiration for authoritarian figures like Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele has drawn both support and criticism, while Jara’s communist ties evoke fears of Chile’s autocratic past. The outcome of this election will shape Chile’s future, determining whether it leans toward conservative law-and-order policies or progressive social reforms.
Chile’s most polarized presidential race in decades boosts the right and divides immigrants
