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Following a conclusive final ballot, ultra-conservative figure José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidency in Chile.

A Clear-Cut Victory

After more than 99% of votes tallied, Kast garnered 58.17% of the votes, beating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who received 41.83%.

This signifies Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having previously been defeated by the sitting president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 final vote.

Campaign Built On Law and Order and Immigration

Known for his unwavering Catholic views and regard for the rule of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was largely focused on promises to tackle rising insecurity and radically restrict immigration.

He repeatedly blamed migrants, particularly the approximately 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for public safety problems. Throughout the election cycle, he issued an stern warning for them to depart before the new term begins or face expulsion.

His policy ideas included Trump-inspired measures such as erecting camps, high walls, security fences, and strengthening the armed forces presence on the northernmost frontier.

Within a Regional Trend

Several commentators interpret Kast's success as fitting into a broader right-wing shift in Latin America, coming after recent political wins in nations like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

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

Leading Lacking a Solid Mandate

Despite his decisive electoral win, Kast is not expected to have an overall majority in Congress, not in the lower house nor the Senate, even if various right-leaning parties are counted together.

This political reality might challenge his policy goals, such as a promise to reduce public spending by $6 billion within 18 months—a measure for which he has yet to offered a clear explanation.

"We have many questions about how a Kast government will operate that remain unclear because he has not said his methods for implement them," commented a political analyst.

The expert stated, "On economic policy, it is very likely we will see austerity policies typical of the right-wing. But the area with considerably less uncertainty is on public safety, because that has been his workhorse throughout the campaign."