Chile has shifted sharply to the right after José Antonio Kast, a hardline conservative, won the presidential runoff with over 58% of the vote, defeating Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara.

Kast, leader of the Republican Party and a staunch admirer of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, campaigned heavily on crime, immigration, and economic concerns, promising to restore security and order.

Celebrations erupted in Santiago as Kast pledged to be “the president of all Chileans” and warned undocumented migrants to leave the country before he takes office on March 11, 2026.

His victory continues a regional trend in Latin America toward right-leaning governments focused on security and migration, following recent shifts in Bolivia, Argentina, and Ecuador, NPR has reported.

International leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have congratulated Kast, emphasizing strengthened regional security and cooperation.