Political change
Shift to the right in Chile: Kast wins presidential election
Updated 12/15/2025 – 2:58 amReading time: 3 minutes
Many people in Chile are concerned about rising crime and irregular migration. A German-born politician promises to take tough action. This is well received by voters.
Political change of direction in Chile: The German-born right-wing politician José Antonio Kast won the second round of the presidential election against the communist government candidate Jeannette Jara. This was announced by the electoral office of the South American country. “Chile wants change,” Kast said in his victory speech to thousands of supporters in the capital Santiago de Chile. “And I tell you, yes, Chile will see real change.”
According to official results, the 59-year-old Republican Party candidate received around 58 percent of the vote in Sunday’s runoff election. Jara got almost 42 percent. She admitted defeat. “Democracy has spoken loud and clear,” she wrote on Platform X after congratulating Kast by phone. It was the third time that Kast sought the highest state office.
Irregular migration and increasing crime were very important topics in the election campaign. “We will restore respect for the law,” Kast said. The hope of living without fear won.
Kast will take over the reins of government for four years on March 11, 2026, as the successor to the left-wing head of state Gabriel Boric. Boric congratulated the election winner. Around 15.8 million people were called to vote – voting is compulsory in Chile.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed his congratulations for the future president. “The United States looks forward to working with his administration to strengthen regional security and revitalize our trade relationships,” Rubio wrote on Platform X.
The ultra-liberal president of neighboring Argentina, Javier Milei, congratulated Kast on his victory. He spoke of a further step in favor of freedom and private property in Latin America. “I am very happy about my friend’s overwhelming victory,” Milei wrote on X.
The father of nine and a devout Catholic, Kast comes from an influential family. Like him, several of his siblings were representatives or senators, and one brother served as president of the central bank during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. His father – a former Wehrmacht officer and NSDAP member from Bavaria – emigrated to Chile after the Second World War and founded a factory for meat and sausage products.
