The keys
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6:00 p.m. The sun begins to set and timid winds begin to be felt in Santiago, capital of Chile. In the commune of Las Condes You can see a large stage waiting to serve as a place for a speech that, with all certainty, will transcend the history books. A stage that, unlike other occasions, does not contain a protective glass for those who, worried about possible acts of violence, hide there when delivering their speeches.
Children, young people, adults, grandparents. Everyone is welcome to tune in to the presidential election vote counting. And, later, celebrate what the disembarkation in La Moneda of the most right-wing political sector of the national political spectrum and the first time that the “hardest” right has taken the reins of power since the return of democracy.
José Antonio Kast (1966), lawyer, union leader and former UDI deputy, who said yes to Pinochet in the 1989 plebiscite and has defended the work of the military dictatorship throughout his political career, won easily at the polls, surpassing 58.2% of the votes a Jeannette Jarastandard bearer of the Communist Party (PC) and the center-left, who was left with only the 41,8% of the votes cast. It is a victory that echoes phenomena such as that of Javier Milei in Argentina and at the same time a blow to the chin of a left incapable of staying in power beyond one mandate.
Under the slogan of moving towards an “emergency government”, given the advance of drug trafficking and illegal immigration, and with the slogan of “change” versus “continuity” the founder of the Republican Party It will arrive in the Executive Branch on March 11 of next year. And he will do so, probably, not only with the store to which he belongs, but also with several representatives of the traditional center-right and even some faces that come from another doctrinal circle.
MAGA style caps and patriotic symbols
As the minutes progressed, dozens of people attended the presidential command with Chilean flags hugging their bodies and red caps reminiscent of those who usually accompany the American president, Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Paris-London, a neighborhood located in the center of the city and where Jara lived on election day, was funereal. It was, although they tried to hide it with dances and smiles.
Despite the lack of uncertainty about the results, it was the forcefulness of the defeat that generated the most sadness and concern. Despite this, Approximately an hour from the start of the count, Jara acknowledged his defeatcalled the president-elect. Shortly after, he arrived at his own command to greet him personally.
At the same time, in the palace, the president Boric, who will meet this Monday with Kast To begin the transfer of functions, he made a conciliatory speech calling for unity among Chileans. Surrounded by some of his ministers, including the Government spokesperson, Camila Vallejorecognized that what unites him with the winner of the day “is greater” than political and ideological differences and that “he will always be available” to collaborate in whatever is necessary. A different tone than the one he maintained during much of the campaign, a period in which he and his cabinet did their best to criticize his opponent and warn of his threat. Issue, which in the lens of some analysts, was not a good strategy given the lack of popularity that it entailed.
Rubio, Abascal, Milei: affinity and common horizon
The reactions, from around the world, did not take long to arrive either. “Congratulations to the president-elect of Chile José Antonio Kast on his victory. The United States looks forward to collaborating with your Administration to strengthen regional security and revitalize our commercial relationship,” he wrote Marco RubioSecretary of State of the United States. A message that comes in the midst of tensions between both countries over the future of the visa waivera document that helps Chileans enter North American territory and that Trump has hinted at ending it.
On the continent, those who emerge as strategic partners of the president-elect were also present on social networks. Faithful to his style and from X, mercywho has been a friend of Kast for years and who have shared in forums in different countries, said: “One more step for our region in defense of life, liberty and private property. I am sure that we will work together so that America embraces the ideas of freedom and we can free ourselves from the oppressive yoke of 21st century socialism…!!!”. Only hours before, in the morning, Kast claimed to have “big dreams with Milei”anticipating what will surely be a solid bond going forward.
From Ecuador, its head of state, Daniel Noboacharacterized, like Kast, by a “tough” rhetoric against delinquency and crime, joined in the congratulations. The same is the leader of Vox, Santiago Abascalwho offered his “congratulations to my dear friend and ally,” adding that what happened is “just what Chile needs to open a new stage of hope, order and future.” Kast’s closeness with Vox is long and has as a great precedent the visit of the Chilean politician to Madrid, in May 2024, to attend a common summit. During that tour, he also visited victims of terrorism from the Basque independence group ETA.
From the electoral hangover, as is well known in the corridors of the Republican Party, we will have to move on to a summer full of challenges in defining priorities and assembling teams. With a country fed up with the advance of crimes and urged by the job offer available today, managing expectations is emerging as one of the most important difficulties for the new president.
And that is why the elected president, in his inaugural speech, emphasized that There are no “magic solutions” He asked citizens for patience, made gestures towards unity in the sector and asked that the opposition be constructive. The weight of governance already rests on your shoulders.