In the first round of the elections, Kast received 24% of the votes, losing to Jara, who led with 27%. As noted by the Associated Press, Kast became the first ultra-conservative president of Chile in more than 35 years. In his victory speech, he emphasized that the country needs order in all areas, adding that the voting results represent a "broad mandate" and "enormous responsibility" for him as president.
Jeanette Jara, who congratulated Kast on his success, noted that "defeat helps to better understand oneself." Among the first to congratulate the new president were Argentine libertarian Javier Milei and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who commented: "The left is retreating."
The President of Chile is elected for a term of four years without the right to re-election. In the previous election cycle, held in 2021, Kast and Gabriel Boric, representing the left coalition, faced off in the second round, where Kast, who led after the first round, was defeated. Boric became the youngest president in the country's history at the age of 35.
According to the Associated Press, the elections in Chile have become part of a broader trend in South America, where countries from Argentina to Bolivia have witnessed the defeat of democratic forces in recent elections.
