Politics
NEW: Conservative Candidate Who Ran On Mass Deportations Cruises To Victory In Chile
An ultra-conservative former lawmaker who ran on a campaign of mass deportations and cracking down on violent crime cruised to victory in Chile’s presidential election on Sunday, marking a significant political shift in the South American nation.
Kast was declared the winner on Monday morning after receiving 58 percent of the vote in a resounding victory over self-styled Communist opponent Jeannette Jara. Kast, who previously ran for president in 2017 and 2021, ran a campaign almost entirely focused on what he has described as the most aggressive public-order campaign in a generation.
Key campaign focuses include mass deportations of illegal aliens, strict border security and cracking down on crime. To that end, he has echoed President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and actions in vowing to use the military to enforce immigration law and combat organized crime.
Kast speaks at a campaign rally in 2017
“When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it,” he said in a recent campaign speech.
Kast, 59, previously served in Chile’s legislature before running for president. He has argued that threats posed by cartel activity and poor border security present problems to the nation that will require drastic solutions, including deadlines for irregular migrants to leave the country before facing enforced removal, Fox News reported.
The election reflects a regional trend of voters in South and Central America electing candidates who prioritize public order and a crackdown on crime. This was largely kicked off by El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who has overseen a massive crackdown on criminal activity that transformed the nation from one of the world’s most violent destinations to one of the safest.
Other examples include the election of Javier Milei in Argentina, a staunch Trump ally who ran on a libertarian campaign. Ecuador and Paraguay have also elected presidents who prioritized public safety and combatting crime in 2023, while Bolivia’s centrist-conservative Rodrigo Paz won a shocking victory in Bolivia on a similar platform earlier this year.
“Here, no individual won, no party won — Chile won, and hope won,” Kast said in a victory speech. “The hope of living without fear. That fear that torments families.”
He added: “When we tell an irregular migrant that they are breaking the law and must leave our country if they ever want the chance to return, we mean it … We must show great firmness against crime, organised crime, impunity and disorder.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio congratulated the president-elect on his victory and expressed optimism about building a strong relationship with his government. “Congratulations to Chilean President-Elect [Jose Antonio Kast] on his victory. The United States looks forward to partnering with his administration to strengthen regional security and revitalize our trade relationship,” Rubio posted on X.
