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After a definitive runoff election, ultra-conservative politician José Antonio Kast has secured the presidency in Chile.

A Resounding Victory

With over 99% of ballots counted, Kast secured 58.17% of the ballots, defeating leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who received 41.83%.

This marks Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having previously been lost by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 final vote.

Platform Centered On Security and Migration

Recognized for his unwavering socially conservative views and regard for the era of former leader Augusto Pinochet, Kast's campaign was primarily centered on promises to combat increasing violence and radically curb immigration.

He consistently blamed foreigners, notably the approximately 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for security issues. Throughout the campaign, he issued an ultimatum for them to leave before the March 11 handover or face deportation.

His policy ideas included controversial measures such as erecting camps, border walls, perimeter fencing, and increasing the armed forces presence on the northern border.

Part of a Regional Wave

Numerous observers interpret Kast's win as aligning with a broader right-wing shift in the region, coming after recent electoral wins in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Yet, other analysts further describe it as a part of the established swing of power between left and right-wing leadership since Chile's establishment of democracy in 1990.

Leading Lacking a Strong Mandate

Despite his sweeping popular vote win, Kast will not command an absolute majority in parliament, neither in the Chamber of Deputies or the Senate, even if various conservative parties are combined together.

This political landscape could hinder his policy goals, including a vow to cut public spending by a significant sum within a year and a half—a plan for which he has yet to offered concrete steps.

"We have many questions about what a Kast presidency will look like that we don't know because he has not said his methods for implement them," commented a political science professor.

The analyst added, "Regarding economic policy, it is almost certain we will see spending cuts associated with the right. However the area with much less uncertainty is on public safety, because that has been his workhorse during the race."