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

A Resounding Win

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

This marks Kast's third bid for the presidency, having in the past been defeated by the current president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round.

Platform Focused On Security and Migration

Recognized for his staunch socially conservative views and praise for the era of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's platform was mostly centered on promises to address increasing insecurity and significantly restrict immigration.

He frequently blamed foreigners, particularly the around 330,000 unauthorized individuals in Chile, for public safety problems. During the election cycle, he issued an final demand for them to depart before the inauguration or face expulsion.

His plans envisioned controversial measures such as constructing detention centers, high walls, security fences, and strengthening the armed forces presence on the northern frontier.

Amid a Broader Wave

Many analysts view Kast's victory as fitting into a wider right-wing shift in the region, coming after recent political wins in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other pundits additionally view it as a extension of the established rotation of power between left and right administrations since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Governing Lacking a Strong Majority

Despite his decisive popular vote triumph, Kast will not command an clear majority in the legislature, neither in the Chamber of Deputies nor the Senate, even if all rightwing parties are counted together.

This political landscape could challenge his plans, such as a pledge to reduce public spending by billions within a year and a half—a plan for which he has yet to offered concrete steps.

"We have many things about what a Kast government will operate that we don't know because he has not said his methods for achieve them," said a political expert.

The expert stated, "Regarding economic policy, it is almost certain we will see austerity policies associated with the right. However where there is considerably less doubt is on security policy, because that has been his workhorse during the campaign."