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In a decisive runoff election, ultra-conservative figure José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidential office in Chile.

A Resounding Win

With over 99% of votes tallied, Kast secured 58.17% of the vote, defeating leftist former minister Jeannette Jara, who earned 41.83%.

This represents Kast's third bid for the presidency, having in the past been lost by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 runoff.

Platform Built On Law and Order and Immigration

Noted for his strong socially conservative views and regard for the period of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's electoral bid was primarily focused on promises to tackle rising insecurity and drastically curb migration.

He repeatedly pointed to migrants, notably the roughly 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for security issues. During the campaign, he delivered an ultimatum for them to leave before the inauguration or face deportation.

His proposals featured U.S.-style measures such as building detention centers, border walls, security fences, and strengthening the armed forces presence on the northernmost frontier.

Amid a Continental Shift

Several observers see Kast's success as fitting into a larger right-wing shift in South America, following recent electoral wins in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other analysts further describe it as a part of the predictable swing of power between left and right-wing administrations since Chile's transition to democracy in 1990.

Leading Lacking a Strong Mandate

In spite of his clear electoral triumph, Kast will not have an absolute majority in the legislature, neither in the lower house nor the Senate, even if all right-leaning parties are counted together.

This political landscape may challenge his agenda, including a promise to slash public spending by a significant sum within a year and a half—a proposal for which he has yet to provided specifics.

"There are many things about how a Kast government will operate that remain unclear because he has not said the way he will implement them," noted a political professor.

The expert added, "Regarding the economy, it is almost certain we will see adjustment measures common for the right-wing. However where there is far less doubt is on public safety, because that has been his workhorse across the campaign."