Overview
- Official tallies place Jeannette Jara at roughly 26.8% and José Antonio Kast near 24%, sending both to a December 14 runoff confirmed by Chile’s electoral authority.
- Outsider Franco Parisi finished third around 19–20%, and he told both contenders they must earn his supporters’ backing rather than expect a blank check.
- Kast secured public backing from Evelyn Matthei and Johannes Kaiser and urged unity across right and center-right factions ahead of the second round.
- Jara moved to broaden her appeal by embracing select rivals’ proposals, including a VAT refund on medicines, shorter oncology wait times, recovery of vulnerable neighborhoods, and support for arts centers.
- Turnout topped 13 million under compulsory voting, and reporting indicates right and center-right candidates together drew about 70% as early legislative counts suggested conservative gains in Congress.