Leftist candidate Jeannette Jara and right-wing leader José Antonio Kast will face each other in Chile’s presidential run-off after finishing first and second in a crime-dominated election. Jara won 26.85%, narrowly ahead of Kast’s 23.93%, but analysts say the opposition’s combined vote makes her path to victory difficult.
Kast surged by promising a hard line against crime and migration, vowing to secure Chile’s borders and “rebuild” the country after what he called failed left-wing governance. Jara, a former minister under President Boric, urged voters not to let fear drive what she called extreme policies.
The Right also won majorities in both houses of Congress, reinforcing the shift in its favor. Amid rising crime rates and growing public anxiety, the December 14 run-off will determine whether Chile moves toward Kast’s security-focused agenda or Jara’s leftist political approach.
