Overview
- Eight candidates are on the ballot, and reporting indicates no one is expected to win outright before the 14 December runoff.
- Security and migration dominated the campaign, with voters prioritizing crime after rising gang violence even as Chile remains one of Latin America’s safer countries.
- Jara, a Communist Party member seen as moderate and a former labor minister, cites reforms such as the 40‑hour workweek and vows tighter controls on illegal immigration.
- Kast, a far‑right contender linked to international conservative networks and known for admiring Pinochet’s legacy, pledges mass expulsions of undocumented migrants and tougher policing.
- Analysts say a united right could consolidate in the second round, with wildcard Johannes Kaiser’s voters potentially decisive, while concurrent congressional elections will shape the next government’s room to maneuver.