Kast’s election reinforces a trend observed in recent years: the promotion of radical right leaders in response to economic frustrations, daily insecurity and the discrediting of traditional political elites.
The election of José Antonio Kast as president of Chile marks a profound inflection in the political trajectory of a country which, since the democratic transition of 1990, has built its international reputation on institutional moderation, economic predictability and the coexistence of distinct ideological projects within the framework of the rules of the democratic game.
The victory of a candidate associated with the far right breaks this historical pattern and projects effects that go beyond the Chilean domestic space, radiating relevant impacts on Latin America and on the global debate around liberal democracy.
For decades, Chile has served as a regional reference point. Even after the major social mobilizations of 2019 and the failure of two consecutive attempts at constitutional reform, the political system has maintained a logic of reciprocal confinement between the Executive, the Legislative and the Judiciary.
Kast’s arrival at the Palace of La Moneda modifies this balance by introducing an agenda marked by confrontational rhetoric, the absolute centrality of public security and an explicit distrust of consensuses built in the field of civil and social rights.
Election campaign associated with immigration and crime
Domestically, the new government takes office in a context of parliamentary fragmentation and strong social polarization. The electoral discourse was anchored in the direct association between immigration, crime and the deterioration of public order, particularly in the north of the country and in areas of historical conflict with Mapuche communities.
The promise of militarization of the territory, harsher sanctions and an expansion of the penitentiary system signals a qualitative change in the relationship between state and society, with direct impacts on individual guarantees and mechanisms of democratic control. This inflection is occurring in a country whose institutional memory still bears deep marks of 20th century authoritarianism.
At the regional level, Kast’s election reinforces a trend observed in recent years: the promotion of radical right leaders in response to economic frustrations, daily insecurity and the discredit of traditional political elites.
“Law and order” as the axis of government action
Chile joins a heterogeneous group of countries that adopt the discourse of “law and order” as a structuring axis of government action. This movement tends to influence electoral debates in neighboring countries, particularly those facing intense migratory pressures, the growth of transnational organized crime and the erosion of progressive coalitions.
Migration policy occupies a central place in this new scenario. Chile has become an important destination for regional migratory flows, notably Venezuelans, and the rhetoric of closure and repression is already having indirect effects on Peru and Bolivia, which are experiencing population movements in anticipation of stricter measures. This forced overhaul of migration routes increases diplomatic and humanitarian tensions, while calling into question fragile regional coordination mechanisms.
Internationally, Kast’s victory brings Chile closer to conservative governments, notably the United States under Republican leadership. Topics such as continental security, the fight against drug trafficking and police cooperation tend to gain priority, while Chilean action in forums dedicated to social integration, the climate agenda and sustainable development loses importance. This reorientation affects the political balance of Latin America in multilateral spaces and weakens regional consultation initiatives which depended on the traditional Chilean mediation position.
Fiscal austerity, deregulation and state reduction
From an economic point of view, the program of fiscal austerity, deregulation and reduction of the role of the state is consistent with recent experiences in the region, but finds structural limits in a society marked by persistent inequalities and disappointed social expectations. The tension between macroeconomic discipline and social cohesion constitutes one of the main tests of the new government, especially in an environment of moderate growth and recent inflationary pressures.
The election of José Antonio Kast symbolizes more than a change in power. It expresses Chile’s entry into an uncertain political cycle, in which the stability built over decades is simultaneously faced with internal and external challenges. The outcome of this process will be closely watched across the region, as it reflects the direction Latin American democracies are taking in a global context marked by polarization, insecurity and increasingly intense normative conflicts.
Armando Alvares Garcia Júnior does not consult, work for, hold shares in, or receive funding from any company or organization that might benefit from the publication of this article and has disclosed no relevant connections beyond his academic position.
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