Chile’s Presidential Election Features Divisive Candidates Amid Crisis

Chile is set to hold a pivotal presidential election on **December 14, 2024**, featuring a diverse lineup of candidates, including a long-time Communist Party member and two ultraconservative politicians. As the nation grapples with escalating crime rates and growing immigration concerns, many voters appear ready to consider a shift in leadership from the policies of current President **Gabriel Boric**.

Three frontrunners dominate the ballot, each representing different political ideologies. **Jeannette Jara**, a 51-year-old Communist Party member and former labor minister, is leading in the polls. Despite her affiliation with the left-wing coalition, Jara has attempted to distance herself from the unpopular Boric administration, suggesting she might even suspend her Communist Party membership if elected. Her campaign focuses on enhancing domestic production, protecting workers’ rights, and increasing the minimum wage. Acknowledging the country’s pressing security issues, she has proposed building more jails, increasing law enforcement personnel, and improving border security through advanced technology.

In a competitive race, **José Antonio Kast** emerges as a significant contender. Often compared to **Donald Trump**, Kast is known for his ultraconservative stance. His proposals include closing borders and deporting approximately 300,000 individuals who entered Chile irregularly. He has consistently opposed abortion rights, same-sex marriage, and immigration. In a previous campaign, he controversially suggested digging trenches along parts of the northern border to deter irregular immigration. Although reports surfaced in 2019 regarding Kast’s father being a member of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party, Kast has denied these claims, asserting his father was a conscript in the German army.

Another candidate, **Johannes Kaiser**, has gained momentum in recent weeks. A former YouTuber, Kaiser advocates for a free-market economy, austerity measures, and harsher penalties for criminals. In a recent interview with **Agence France-Presse**, he proposed sending immigrants with criminal records to El Salvador’s notorious prison, known as the **Terrorism Confinement Center**. Kaiser, dissatisfied with Kast’s Republican Party, co-founded a new right-wing party in 2024 that aligns with libertarian principles. He has claimed that his campaign is even further to the right than Kast’s, stating, “to my right is Genghis Khan.”

Issues at Stake in the Election

Insecurity remains a pressing concern for voters, with crime victimization steadily increasing since 2021, according to the **National Institute of Statistics**. **Luz Araceli González**, a professor of International Relations at **Tecnológico de Monterrey**, emphasized that security is a vital issue in the elections, mirroring trends seen in many Latin American countries. She noted the widespread societal fears regarding organized crime and drug trafficking.

All candidates have pledged to adopt stricter measures against crime, but their effectiveness will ultimately depend on voter reception. If no candidate secures more than half of the votes, a runoff election will be held on **December 14, 2024**, between the two leading candidates.

Jara is currently favored to win the first round, yet if she advances to the runoff, she may face a unified right-wing challenge. Political analyst **Guillermo Holzmann** noted that there is a segment of the electorate seeking solutions outside the polarized left-right spectrum. He suggested that many voters now see the extreme right as both sensible and electable, highlighting a potential shift in Chile’s political landscape.

Holzmann further pointed out that Kast’s chances could be stronger this election cycle, primarily due to unresolved issues under the Boric administration, particularly regarding public safety and organized crime. As Chile moves closer to the elections, the outcome remains uncertain, with many anticipating a significant ideological shift in the country’s governance.