Governor Jose Antonio Castfavorite to win the dispute Presidency of ChileHe will have a very short period of time to deliver on his campaign promises if he wins the second round of elections scheduled for December, one of his advisers announced, against the backdrop of a split in Congress and continuing social discontent among the Chilean population.
Frustration over broken political promises and deep concerns about problems like crime are draining voters’ patience like never before, he said. Ivan BudojiAn architect and intellectual who advises the former parliamentarian on housing and urban planning issues. Budoji said that if Kast takes office in March 2026, his strategy calls for rapid changes such as amending regulations, strengthening border security and revitalizing nearly 200 “critical” areas across the country in the first 90 days.
“Residents say: ‘Okay, I believe in you.’ But this period is very short,” the consultant said. “The honeymoon period is short,” he added.
Kast is the most likely candidate for the second round of the presidential elections, which will be held on December 14. He will run against him in the elections Janet JaraMember of the Communist Party and former minister in the government Gabriel Borek. The winner will face tough demands from the Chilean people to take rapid action to reduce illegal immigration, eliminate crime, and boost the faltering economy, all with a limited public budget and without a clear legislative majority.
Kast’s victory means radical change for a country that stood out among its peers for moderation and political balance until the wave of social protests against inequality in 2019. Buric, who came to power driven by these calls for change, has faced low approval and voter discontent over his inability to meet evolving priorities during his four-year term.
The CAST team realizes the danger of falling into the same trap.
“If you don’t keep your word, if you disappoint expectations, you will build up discontent,” Budoji said. “This is not enough for social revolution, but it is enough for the government to lose support.”
“Fake” bureaucracy.
Budoji, who holds a master’s degree in urban development from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and is the author of a book about the 2019 protests, is familiar with discontent over the housing issue in particular.
He recently visited the El Olívar neighborhood, near the coastal city of Viña del Mar, where residents are angry about little progress in rebuilding their homes after devastating wildfires in February 2024. This month, he met with residents of the La Pintana slum, on the outskirts of Santiago, to better understand problems with public safety and overcrowding.
“There is awareness of the seriousness of the housing deficit, and of access to housing, which is essential,” Budoji said. “Frustration is growing over something very sensitive: real estate ownership.”
Budoji said the CAST team is committed to building 400,000 new housing units, while also promising to simplify regulations in an effort that will help facilitate construction and, more broadly, stimulate economic growth.
“What we face today as a big problem, more than labor, is the cost of land and bureaucracy“, he stated. “We are adding deadlines and costs to housing due to a very imaginary and crazy bureaucracy, which will be very difficult to control.”
Jara came in first place in the first round, which took place on November 16, with 26.9% of the votes, followed by Kast with 23.9%. They defeated conservative candidates, including liberals Johannes Kaiser and Evelyn Mattheycenter right.
Since then, Kast has worked to shore up support after an exhausting and fragmented campaign. He met with mayors, regional governors and heads of right-wing parties, and his team included famous economists who supported Mathi.