Overview of the Elections
On Sunday, Chileans will head to the polls to elect a new president in a vote that pits the ruling left-wing coalition against a series of right-wing candidates. Crime and immigration are the top concerns for voters at this time.
This marks the first mandatory presidential election since 2012, with all eligible voters able to cast their ballots. With a population of approximately 16 million, including a 53% abstention rate in the 2021 elections, voter turnout remains unpredictable.
Key Candidates
Jeannette Jara
Background: Jeannette Jara, a 51-year-old member of the Communist Party, is the ruling coalition’s candidate. She leads in polls and is expected to advance to the second round, but faces challenges due to the unpopularity of President Gabriel Boric and her communist affiliation.
Policy Focus: Jara aims to raise the minimum wage, strengthen labor rights, and boost the lithium industry. She has also emphasized security by pledging to build new prisons and modernize the police force.
José Antonio Kast
Background: José Antonio Kast, 59, is a lawyer and three-time presidential candidate. He lost in the second round of 2021 to Boric and previously served as a congressman. He founded the ultraconservative Republican Party.
Policy Focus: Kast prioritizes immigration and security, proposing mass deportation of undocumented immigrants and the construction of maximum-security prisons. His German-immigrant father’s association with the Nazi party and his brother’s role during Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship have raised concerns about his candidacy.
Johannes Kaiser
Background: Johannes Kaiser, 49, shares a German-Chilean heritage and legal background with Kast. He was once a member of the Republican Party before founding the National Libertarian Party.
Policy Focus: Kaiser, known for his YouTube fame, promises to close the border with Bolivia, deport Salvadoran undocumented immigrants with criminal records, drastically cut public spending, and significantly reduce the size of government. He also intends to withdraw from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Paris Agreement on climate change.
Evelyn Matthei
Background: Evelyn Matthei, 72, is a seasoned moderate right-wing politician who initially led in polls but has lost ground. An economist, former senator, mayor, and labor minister, Matthei is running for president for the second time after losing in 2013 with 38% of the votes against Michelle Bachelet of the Socialist Party.
Policy Focus: Matthei plans to strengthen police investment while reducing other government spending and corporate taxes.
Legislative Elections and Second Round Scenario
Polls suggest Jara and Kast are most likely to advance to the December elections, with right-wing candidates favored to defeat Jara in a second round. The upcoming legislative elections will also impact the December contest, as all 155 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 23 of the 50 Senate seats are up for grabs.
If the Chilean right-wing wins both the presidency and control of both legislative chambers, it would be the first time since Pinochet’s dictatorship ended in 1990 that they would control both legislative chambers alongside the executive branch.
A right-wing coalition majority of four-sevenths in both chambers (89 deputies and 29 senators) could enable constitutional reforms.
The Mining Sector
Chile is the world’s largest copper producer and second-largest lithium producer. Leading poll candidates enjoy broad support for the mining sector.
Jara has pledged to empower state-owned copper giant Codelco to play a more significant role in lithium production, while Kast has stated he will audit the company upon taking office.
Mining companies are urging candidates to expedite environmental permit processes, enabling faster mine expansion and increased production.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main candidates in Chile’s presidential elections? The key candidates are Jeannette Jara (ruling left-wing coalition), José Antonio Kast (right-wing), Johannes Kaiser (right-wing), and Evelyn Matthei (moderate right-wing).
- What are the primary concerns for Chilean voters? Crime and immigration are the main issues on voters’ minds.
- What policies do the leading candidates propose? Jara focuses on raising the minimum wage, strengthening labor rights, and boosting lithium production. Kast prioritizes immigration control and security measures. Kaiser aims to cut public spending, reduce the size of government, and withdraw from international agreements.
- What is at stake in the legislative elections? The entire Chamber of Deputies and half of the Senate seats are up for grabs, potentially impacting the balance of power and enabling constitutional reforms if the right-wing coalition secures a majority.
- How do candidates view the mining sector? Leading candidates enjoy broad support for Chile’s vital mining industry, with Jara advocating for state-owned Codelco’s expanded role in lithium production and Kast promising audits of the company.
