Key Candidates and Their Platforms
Chileans are heading to the polls on Sunday in a country deeply divided between the most right-wing candidate since the end of Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship 35 years ago and a moderate communist representing the left.
José Antonio Kast: The Right-Wing Favorite
José Antonio Kast, a 59-year-old devout Catholic lawyer and father of nine, is the frontrunner in the polls. He has pledged to deport nearly 340,000 undocumented migrants, mostly Venezuelans, and directly tackle crime. This is Kast’s third attempt at the presidency, now as the candidate for the Republican Party he founded five years ago, as he found the traditional right too lenient.
Kast frequently emphasizes that “the country is falling apart.” He presents Chile almost as a failed state dominated by drug trafficking, straying from the “economic miracle” that transformed it into one of Latin America’s most successful nations.
Jeannette Jara: The Moderate Communist
Kast’s rival is Jeannette Jara, a 51-year-old humble-background lawyer, former labor minister. She promises to raise the minimum wage and defend pensions.
Public Sentiment and Crime Perception
Almost 16 million Chileans began voting at 08h00 local time (11h00 GMT), as reported by AFP journalists. Polling stations close at 18h00 (21h00 GMT).
José González, a 74-year-old truck driver, told AFP, “I’m voting for Kast because I trust him more. Communism has never been positive anywhere in the world.”
According to a recent Ipsos poll, 63% of Chileans consider crime and violence their biggest concern, followed by low economic growth. However, experts argue that the perception of fear in Chile is much greater than the actual crime rates suggest.
While homicides have doubled over the past decade, they’ve been declining for the last two years. Nevertheless, there’s an increase in violent crimes like kidnapping and extortion due to the arrival of Venezuelan, Colombian, and Peruvian gangs, such as the Tren de Aragua.
“A Pinochet Without a Uniform”
Kast supported the military dictatorship and claims that if Pinochet were still alive, he would vote for Kast. However, in this campaign, he has avoided discussing this topic and others that might cost him votes, such as his stance against abortion under any circumstances.
Investigative journalism in 2021 revealed that Kast’s father, born in Germany, was a member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party. Kast asserts his father was a forced conscript in the German army during World War II and denies being a Nazi supporter.
Favorite Despite Pinochet Ties
Despite his support for the Pinochet regime, Kast has managed to remain a favorite. In the previous round of elections, both Jara and Kast received a quarter of the votes, with Kast having a slight edge. However, the right-wing votes collectively made up 70%, and analysts believe this will propel Kast into the presidential palace, La Moneda.
Since 2010, the right and left have alternated in power during Chile’s presidential elections.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main candidates? José Antonio Kast, a right-wing candidate, and Jeannette Jara, a moderate communist.
- What are their key promises? Kast vows to deport undocumented migrants and combat crime, while Jara aims to raise the minimum wage and protect pensions.
- Why is crime a significant concern? Although crime rates have been declining, perceptions of fear are high due to violent crimes linked to the arrival of Venezuelan, Colombian, and Peruvian gangs.
- What are Kast’s controversial ties? Kast has links to the Pinochet dictatorship and investigative reports revealed his father was a member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party, though Kast denies this.
- Why is Kast favored to win? Despite his controversial ties, right-wing votes collectively make up 70%, and analysts predict this will propel Kast to victory.
