Chile elects the most right-wing president of the post-Pinochet era

Chile has elected its most right-wing president since the end of Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship, marking a sharp political shift in a country long seen as one of Latin America’s more stable democracies. Conservative firebrand José Antonio Kast won the presidential election after campaigning on a platform centred on law and order, tough immigration controls, lower taxes and a rollback of several progressive reforms introduced in recent years. His victory reflects growing voter frustration over crime, inflation and economic uncertainty. Kast, a former lawmaker and longtime critic of Chile’s left, has openly praised aspects of the Pinochet era in the past, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and opposition parties. He has sought to soften his image during the campaign, insisting he is committed to democratic institutions and the rule of law.

The election outcome signals a decisive rejection of the reformist agenda that followed the 2019 social unrest, when mass protests pushed inequality, pensions and public services to the centre of Chile’s political debate. Many voters now appear to be prioritising security and economic stability over structural change. Kast’s win has polarised the country. Supporters see him as a necessary corrective to what they describe as years of political drift and rising crime. Critics warn that his presidency could undermine hard-won social gains and reopen deep divisions dating back to the dictatorship. International markets reacted cautiously, with analysts watching closely for signals on fiscal discipline, social spending and Chile’s approach to constitutional reform. Kast has pledged to respect the ongoing constitutional process, though he opposes many of the changes proposed by left-leaning groups. With this result, Chile enters a new political phase — one that underscores a broader regional trend of voters swinging between ideological extremes amid economic pressure and social fatigue.