"Polls have closed in Chile's presidential runoff election, with voters choosing between far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast and Jeannette Jara of the ruling leftist coalition. Early vote counting suggested a win for far-right Republican Party candidate Kast, as projected, against Jara, a member of the Communist Party and former labor minister. Ahead of the vote, opinion polls showed Kast leading Jara by a wide margin, with some indicating a lead of more than 10 percentage points."
"Once viewed as one of the safest and most prosperous countries in Latin America, Chile has been disrupted in recent years by the Covid-19 pandemic, violent social protests and an increase in organized crime. Polls show more than 60% of Chileans consider security the country's most pressing issue, more so than concerns over the economy, healthcare or education. Although Chile remains one of the safest countries in Latin America, there has been a rise in crime in certain areas over the past decade, with authorities laying the blame on gangs linked to Venezuela, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador."
Polls closed in Chile's presidential runoff between far-right Jose Antonio Kast and Jeannette Jara of the ruling leftist coalition. Early counts suggested a lead for Kast, with opinion polls showing him ahead by a wide margin, sometimes over 10 percentage points. Voting was compulsory for the first time in over a decade, with about 15.8 million eligible voters. Initial results were expected in the early hours of Monday and the winner will take office in March 2026. Kast campaigned on tough-on-crime and anti-migrant policies and pledged unity. Security and immigration emerged as the most pressing issues for voters amid rising crime and social unrest.
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