SANTIAGO, Chile.–The Triumph of José Antonio Kast It cannot be explained solely from an ideological point of view or as a closed adherence to his political career. The result is particularly impressive: pragmatic and defensive coordinationcharacterized by economic urgency and the Demand for order. Kast won because he managed to interpret a certain discomfort, especially in the Middle classwho feels that their efforts no longer lead to progress and stability.
In recent years, this social segment has a persistent feeling of recoil. He rising cost of livingThe Job insecuritydebts and uncertainty They created a scenario in which priorities were reordered. In this context, the promises of growth, fiscal discipline and spending control ultimately outweighed the candidate’s value definitions, even for voters who were aware of their position in relation to the recent past.
Unlike Sebastián Piñera, who maintained a clear distance from Augusto Pinochet’s dictatorship throughout his career, Kast embodies a different relationship to this time. For a significant portion of the electorate, however, this difference was subordinated to a greater urgency: improving personal and family economic situations. It was not an ideological demand, but an instrumental, pocket-oriented decision.
The vote for Kast was also a vote Rejection. rejection of the perception of disorder, Inability of the state to control visible phenomena and a political agenda that, for many, was divorced from everyday concerns. The Migration crisis It occupied a central place in this process, not as an abstraction, but as a concrete experience in specific territories.
The weight of this issue became particularly clear on election day itself. During the day, television coverage focused on broadcasts from the northern border and migration-prone areas, reflecting a concern already established in public opinion. In this scenario the Kast’s proposal seemed to be a clear response to the demand for control accumulated for a long time.
This climate was particularly evident in the in the north of the country. In an area characterized by mining activity, cyclical employment and ongoing migration pressures, Kast’s triumph was enormous. The two main motives of his electorate clearly came together here: economic concerns and the demand for territorial controlin regions where the state’s presence is perceived as inadequate.
The Security and the crime You have completed the picture. Fear was no longer an abstract phenomenon but became an everyday experience. Violent crime and clearly visibly reinforced a Lawsuit due to “strong hand”understood not as authoritarianism, but as an effective ability to control. In this area, Kast was able to build credibility where others made diagnoses or vague promises.
The end result configures a A real election earthquake for the left. Kast won by large and consistent margins in all regions of the country and also became the president with the most votes since compulsory voting was introduced. He knew it too effectively capitalizing on a relevant portion of Franco Parisi’s electorateparticularly in sectors where order, economic stability and rejection of the traditional political elite were paramount.
The extent of the official defeat marks a Historic presidential collapse. At the same time, Kast managed to engage the various right-wing groups under his leadership, from traditional sectors to more disruptive expressions. This success now opens a more complex phase: the transition from a campaign government to a coalition government with different sensitivities and high expectations.
The challenge begins immediately. There is one Sense of urgency obvious and the street will pay attention. Citizens expect clear signals for a change of course in security and the economy. The announcement of a $6 billion budget cut will be one of the first tests. Explain how this will happen Attitudewithout directly affecting the middle class or the most vulnerable sectors, will be key to maintaining initial support.
That leadership will be tested by pressures that could weaken the boldness that brought him to power. Govern according to the logic of one “emergency government”as he himself defined it, implied cover early costs And Avoid unwanted errors. The scope for action is not unlimited: the Parliament is not far right and will force negotiations.
However, Chile is not on the brink of the abyss. Its institutionality acts as a dam against extreme impulses and opens space for an eventual return of technocrats, figures capable of managing the transition between political promise and economic constraint, a constant in cyclical changes.
The right wing of the political scene reacts to fundamental factors: a global trendA Reaction against progressivism that was on the fringes of the debate, and an identity agenda that lost central importance. The social eruption and constitutive processes aged poorly. Today, economics and public policy were once again at the center of the debate, forming a new cycle of opposition.
Kast will also have to manage tensions within his own sector. From Franco Parisi to Johannes Kaiser, who has tried to position himself from an extreme right that Kast sees as overly moderate. His decision to forego the so-called culture war and give up this space was no coincidence. It was a sign of political realism.
Recent history warns of the risks of overconfidence. All former presidents who won big in the second round were intoxicated by the result. Kast is now faced with this dilemma. Citizens did not vote for epic or identity: they voted for order, security and economic improvement. Avoiding early mistakes will be critical to transforming vigorous electoral leadership into sustainable political leadership.
About The Author
