Dramatic Presidential Race in Chile: Communism vs. Far-Right Extremism

Fri Dec 05 2025 04:56:39 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Chile's upcoming presidential run-off will feature a candidate from the Communist Party against a far-right contender, highlighting the nation's struggle with crime and immigration.

In a closely contested first round of Chile's presidential election, Jeanette Jara from the Communist Party and far-right candidate José Antonio Kast will face off in a run-off scheduled for December. The election has been marked by rising concerns over crime and immigration, with both candidates proposing stringent measures to tackle these issues. Jara, previously a minister under President Boric, seeks to enhance the country’s lithium production and social policies. In contrast, Kast, who aims for a hardline stance on immigration, proposes controversial policies influenced by his conservative background.

Chile's presidential election will go to a run-off vote in December between a Communist Party and a far-right candidate, following Sunday’s first round which produced no outright winner.

The election campaign was dominated by topics of crime and immigration as migration to the country has grown in recent years. Candidates pledged to fight foreign gangs, notably targeting Venezuela's Tren de Aragua.

Jeanette Jara of the Communist Party, affiliated with the governing coalition, narrowly won the first round, closely followed by José Antonio Kast, the far-right candidate. This outcome could favor Kast, as Jara was the only left-wing candidate among a split right-wing field.

In the run-off set for December 14, voters must unite behind one of the two candidates. Kast is expected to gain votes from other right-leaning candidates who did not advance, signaling a potential shift of Chilean politics to the right.

Kast, a conservative lawyer and former congressman, previously ran for president in 2021 and aims for a rigorous crackdown on immigration akin to a “border wall” policy. He opposes abortion, even in instances of rape, and seeks to reduce the size of government, carrying a historical weight due to his family's association with the Pinochet regime.

Conversely, Jara's platform includes increasing lithium production—crucial for renewable technologies—raising the minimum wage, and deploying the army to enhance border security. She emphasizes the necessity of safeguarding democracy in Chile.

Both candidates committed to combating rising crime rates and tackling immigration issues, unveiling their contrasting strategies to address organized crime and migrant presence.

Chile’s foreign population has surged since 2017, with over 1.9 million foreigners now residing in the country, of whom a significant number are undocumented, predominantly from Venezuela. The influx adds complexity to the already heated immigration debate sparked by Kast's claims linking crime rates to migrants.

The election marked a significant moment as it was the first instance where all eligible voters were automatically registered, with mandatory participation enforced.