The candidate of Chile’s left-wing ruling coalition, Jeanette Jara, has won the first round of elections, according to exit polls. the presidential elections won in the South American country, reports Reuters news agency. She is heading for almost 27 percent of the votes, compared to more than 24 percent for her far-right challenger José Antonio Kast. On December 14, Jara and Kast will face each other in the second round, current Chilean President Gabriel Boric confirmed on the night from Sunday to Monday.
51-year-old Jeanette Jara is a member of the Communist Party and a candidate on behalf of a broad left-wing coalition. Until recently, she was Minister of Labor in Boric’s government and during her time as minister, she managed, among other things, to shorten the working week and increase the minimum wage. Analysts describe her as less dogmatic than traditional communists with an eye for dialogue between the various left-wing movements.
José Antonio Kast is an ultraconservative lawyer and politician. He mainly focuses on the themes of crime and immigration. During the campaign, Kast argued, in the style of American President Donald Trump, for stricter border controls, mass deportations of undocumented immigrants and a tough approach to organized crime.
Presidential candidate José Antonio Kast waves to his supporters after winning the second round of the Chilean presidential elections.
Photo Marvin Recinos / AFP
Kast is the son of German immigrants and also ran for president in 2017 and 2021. Four years ago he reached the second round and lost to Boric.
In addition to security and migration, the campaign also focused on economic inequality. Jara wants higher wages, pension reforms and strengthening of workers’ rights. “Don’t let fear guide your heart,” she said on Sunday evening after it turned out that she was heading for more votes than Kast in the first round.
But in the mutual match on December 14, Kast is the favorite according to the polls. Not only can he count on the right-wing votes that were spread across several candidates in the first round, but he also seems to be able to appeal to more voters in the center who are wary of Jara’s ‘communist’ label.
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