SANTIAGO,โ Chile – Chileansโ are voting today, November 17, 2025, in a presidential runoff โelection pitting left-wing former student leader Jeannette โฃJara against far-right ex-congressman Josรฉ Kast. The outcome will determine the directionโ of the South American nation after a periodโฃ of significant political and social โขupheaval.Polls closed at 8:00 PM local time (12:00 AM UTC November โ18, 2025).
This election representsโ aโฃ stark choice between โคtwo fundamentally different visions for Chile. Jara, representing the Frente amplio โcoalition, campaigned on promises of โขexpanding social programs, rewriting the constitution, andโ addressing economic inequality. Kast, running as an โself-reliant, focused โฃonโค law and order, restricting immigration,โ and preserving customary values. The election follows a tumultuous period sparked by โwidespread protests in 2019 over โฃsocial and economic grievances,and the subsequent drafting of a new constitution which was ultimately rejected by voters in September โ2023. Theโค result will impact millions โฃof Chileans and potentially โฃreshape the country’s role in Latin America.
Jara and Kast emerged as the top two candidates from a crowded field in theโ firstโฃ round of voting on October 13, 2025, neither securing the required 50% plus one vote to winโข outright. Jaraโ received 35.47% of the vote,while Kast garnered 34.53%.Theโ close results signaled a deeply polarized electorate.
The campaign leading up to the runoff has been marked โฃby intense debate over issues such as pension reform, healthcare access,โ and โindigenous rights.โค Jara has proposed a significant โฃoverhaul of the privatized pension system,while Kast advocates for strengthening privateโค options. Both candidates have pledged to address crime, but differ on the approach, with โJara emphasizing social programs and โKastโฃ advocating for tougher policing.
Official โขresults are expected in the coming โhours. The winnerโ will serveโ a four-year term, beginning March 11, 2026.
ยฉ ALLโ RIGHTS โRESERVED. โLastโ updated โNovember 17, 2025 (02:10 AM CET).