Rightward Surge in chile: legislative Elections Bolster Far-Right Presidential Hopeful
SANTIAGO, Chile - Chile’s right-wing coalition secured a decisive victory in legislative elections held November 19th, further solidifying the position of far-right presidential candidate José Antonio Kast ahead of the December 17th runoff election.The results signal a significant shift in the country’s political landscape, traditionally dominated by center-left coalitions, and raise concerns about the future direction of the nation.
The conservative coalition, known as Chile Vamos, gained control of both chambers of the National Congress, exceeding expectations and amplifying the momentum behind Kast, who faces Gabriel Boric, a left-wing former student leader, in the presidential contest. This outcome represents “an historic and unprecedented shift of the electorate towards the extreme right,” according to Guillaume Long, an expert at the American Center for Economic Policy and Research, who described the trend as ”particularly worrying in a country marked by the memory of dictatorship and human rights violations.”
The legislative gains allow the right to advance its agenda on issues such as immigration, security, and economic policy. Kast’s campaign has focused heavily on these themes, tapping into anxieties about rising crime and the influx of Venezuelan migrants. He has pledged to tighten border controls and prioritize national interests.
The November 19th results follow a first round of presidential voting on November 21st were Kast secured 35.5% of the vote,narrowly ahead of Boric’s 35.8%. Neither candidate achieved the required 50% plus one vote to win outright, triggering the runoff.
Recent polling data indicates a tight race, with both candidates vying for the support of voters who backed other contenders in the first round. The outcome will determine whether Chile continues on a path of social and political reform, or veers towards a more conservative direction reminiscent of the Pinochet era. A parallel campaign, marked by the preponderance of the right and far-right, already unfolded leading up to the first round, signaling the current political climate.
The World with AFP reported this story.
