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In a decisive final ballot, hardline politician José Antonio Kast has clinched the presidential office in Chile.

A Commanding Win

With over 99% of polling stations reporting, Kast garnered 58.17% of the ballots, overcoming leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, who obtained 41.83%.

This marks Kast's third attempt at the presidency, having previously been defeated by the incumbent president, Gabriel Boric, in the 2021 second round.

Campaign Focused On Security and Immigration

Known for his staunch socially conservative views and admiration for the period of dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast's campaign was primarily centered on promises to address rising insecurity and significantly restrict immigration.

He repeatedly blamed immigrants, especially the approximately 330,000 undocumented individuals in Chile, for public safety problems. Throughout the race, he delivered an stern warning for them to depart before the March 11 handover or face expulsion.

His plans included controversial measures such as building holding facilities, high walls, electric fences, and increasing the military presence on the northernmost border.

Part of a Broader Shift

Several observers view Kast's win as fitting into a larger right-wing trend in Latin America, following this year's political outcomes in countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

However, other pundits further frame it as a continuation of the regular swing of power between left and right leadership since Chile's return to democracy in 1990.

Ruling Without a Strong Majority

Despite his clear electoral victory, Kast will not hold an clear majority in Congress, neither in the Chamber of Deputies nor the Senate, even when all rightwing parties are combined together.

This political reality might complicate his agenda, including a promise to slash public spending by $6 billion within 18 months—a measure for which he has yet to offered specifics.

"We have several questions about what a Kast government will look like that we don't know because he has not said how he will achieve them," said a political expert.

The professor added, "Regarding fiscal matters, it is almost certain we will see adjustment measures associated with the right-wing. However where there is far less doubt is on public safety, because that has been his central theme across the campaign."