US EditionChile Runoff to Pit Communist Candidate Against Far-Right
- On Sunday, Chile's first‑round vote produced no outright winner, sending the presidential election to a December run‑off between Jeannette Jara, Communist Party candidate, and far‑right candidate José Antonio Kast.
- A divided right‑wing field helped shape the outcome, as several right‑wing candidates split conservative support and automatic voter registration and compulsory voting changed turnout.
- José Antonio Kast presents himself with hardline immigration and security plans, including a `border wall`, deportations, and new prisons, while Jara, a Communist Party member and former minister, proposes boosting lithium, raising wages, and deploying the army to borders.
- The outcome could directly affect at least 330,000 undocumented migrants, with the National Migration Service reaching more than 1.9 million people, as Chilean voters face the decisive run‑off.
- Chile's growing foreign population has made migration central to the contest, as the runoff’s ideological clash on immigration and security could reshape Chile’s appeal to migrants and its policies.
355 Articles
355 Articles
Chile's far-right rises in Congress, but needs allies for reforms
SANTIAGO - Jose Antonio Kast's far-right Republican Party made strong gains in both chambers of Congress following Chile's Sunday presidential election, but fell short of majorities and will need to forge alliances to pass reforms. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Could a Communist Really Win Chile’s Presidency?
The Communist party candidate, Jeannette Jara, from the governing coalition, narrowly won the initial round in Chile’s presidential elections on Sunday. This was an unprecedented moment – not only for Chile, but for the entire region. Despite its lefty reputation, no big-C communist party – except for Cuba’s – has ever won a national election in Latin America. Now, in the land of Pinochet and the Chicago Boys, communism is on the march. As a po…
In the first round the left-wing candidate Jara is just ahead. But in the final election her conservative competitor Kast is the clear favourite. This would mean a right turn.
Jara, of the ruling coalition, was leading the vote with 26.58 percent, according to the preliminary count. But that support is insufficient to assure him of an immediate victory – for which 50 percent of the total valid votes are needed. Kast, candidate for the Republican Party, was ranked second with 24.32 percent of support, after a campaign marked by high polarization and the concern of Chileans for crime and irregular immigration.
Jara and Kast advance to Chile's presidential runoff
Chile will head to a presidential runoff election on Dec. after leftist candidate Jeannette Jara edged conservative José Antonio Kast to secure the top two spots in Sunday's general election. The winner will succeed Gabriel Boric Font.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
