Kast’s platform emphasized strengthening border security with Peru and Bolivia, stringent immigration policies including mass deportations, and construction of maximum-security prisons. His campaign benefited from endorsements by right-leaning parliamentary candidates and solidified conservative support, as rightist factions collectively garnered about 70% of the presidential vote in the initial round. The Republican Party also emerged as a significant parliamentary victor, securing 31 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, although without outright majority, due to the presence of Franco Parisi’s party obtaining 14 seats. The Senate remains more balanced, with the left maintaining a significant presence.
The incoming administration has received swift international recognition and congratulations from regional and global political figures including Argentina’s ultra-right President Javier Milei, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The transition period commenced immediately with a handover meeting between Kast and incumbent Gabriel Boric on December 15. Observers note that this political realignment could reshape Chile’s domestic priorities and international alignments, indicating a conservative pivot in South America’s evolving political map.
This article was curated and published as part of our South American energy market coverage.
