Right and far-right leaders across Latin America and the world celebrated the victory of José Antonio Kast in the Chilean presidential runoff, highlighting the advance of that ideology in South America.

According to Chile’s electoral authorities, Kast, leader of far-right Partido Republicano, who has made public statements supporting dictator Augusto Pinochet in the past, won with 58% of the vote against left-wing Jeannette Jara (42%), the candidate who aimed to continue with President Gabriel Boric’s political program.

Jara had come in first in the general election. However, she was the only left-wing candidate, while there were three right-wing opponents with chances of making it to the run-off, which meant Kast was able to pick up the other right-wing votes to become Chile’s next president. 

He is scheduled to replace Boric — who was not allowed to run for reelection based on current electoral rules — in March, and govern the Andean country until 2030.

Kast is the son of Michael Martin Kast, a German military officer who served in the Nazi army until migrating to Chile after World War II. He had run for president twice before, including in 2021, when he narrowly lost to the current head of state.

The far-right leader’s triumph represents a sharp U-turn after four years of Boric’s left-leaning, progressive government.

“Thank you, Chile. Let’s get to work!” Kast wrote on X on Sunday night.

Gracias........

© Buenos Aires Herald