Background and Previous Elections
José Antonio Kast, a 59-year-old far-right candidate, has emerged victorious in Chile’s presidential elections, securing the presidency by approximately 15 percentage points over Jeannette Jara, a center-left candidate and member of the Communist Party. Kast’s previous attempts in two presidential elections had left him trailing, especially when his hardline policies did not resonate with a pandemic-affected electorate concerned about inequality and the prospect of drafting a new constitution.
Rise in Popularity
Despite his earlier setbacks, Kast’s popularity has surged due to growing support for his anti-immigration stance amid fears of rising crime rates. Although Chile remains one of Latin America’s safest countries, the rise in organized crime has led to an increase in homicide rates and negatively impacted the economy, with high-profile incidents such as kidnappings and murders on the rise. Candidates from the right have linked this crime wave to the growing number of migrants, primarily Venezuelans.
Kast’s Proposed Policies
Kast has pledged to combat crime and build border walls, as well as establish a specialized police force similar to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to track and deport undocumented migrants. He has given migrants 92 days to leave the country voluntarily after his inauguration, stating that those seeking state resources—such as healthcare, education, or remittances—would be registered and encouraged to leave.
Inspiration from El Salvador
Kast has drawn inspiration from the United States for his strict border approach and visited El Salvador’s prisons, built by President Nayib Bukele, as a model for his platform. While Jara also advocated for migration limits, she proposed doing so without mass deportations.
Connection to Pinochet Era
Kast’s father was a German immigrant and former Nazi party member who fled to South America after World War II. Kast has stated that his father was a forced nazi recruit. His brother, Miguel Kast, served as Chile’s Labor Minister and Central Bank president during the early 1980s under Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship, being part of the “Chicago Boys” who promoted deregulation and privatization.
As a law student, Kast campaigned for a “yes” vote in a 1988 referendum on whether Pinochet should remain in power. Kast has been a congressman for the right-wing Unión Democrática Independiente (UDI) party for over two decades, resigning in 2016 to run for president independently and later joining the Republican Party. His political experience and familiarity have contributed to his recent success, according to political scientist David Altman from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is José Antonio Kast? A 59-year-old far-right candidate who recently won Chile’s presidential elections.
- What are Kast’s key policy proposals? Combating crime, building border walls, and creating a specialized police force to manage undocumented migrants.
- Why has Kast gained popularity? His anti-immigration stance resonates with voters concerned about rising crime rates, linking it to increased migration.
- What is Kast’s connection to Chile’s Pinochet era? His father was a German immigrant and former Nazi party member; his brother served in Pinochet’s government.
- How has Kast’s political career evolved? He has been a congressman for over two decades, resigned to run for president independently, and later joined the Republican Party.
