Chile’s Upcoming General Election
On Sunday, Chile will conduct a general election, marking a pivotal moment as the nation will select a new president and members of parliament. Eight candidates are competing to take over from the leftist President Gabriel Boric, who will be stepping down next year.
In the current race, the frontrunners include Janet Hara, a former communist minister, conservative lawyer José Antonio Kast, conservative Evelyn Massey, and liberal MP Johannes Kaiser. Notably, President Boric, whose term concludes in March 2026, cannot run for immediate re-election, which means he must complete one full term before he could consider a future run.
Voting is mandatory in this election, open to all Chileans aged 18 and over. Those who do not participate may face fines ranging from $36 to $108, although certain exceptions apply for individuals who may be ill, disabled, abroad, or located more than 124 miles from a polling location.
According to Chile’s Cervel Election Bureau, around 15.79 million citizens are eligible to vote this Sunday, which also includes the first round of presidential elections. In addition to the presidential candidates, voters will be choosing all 115 members of Congress and 23 out of 50 Senate members from a pool of 125 Senate candidates and more than 1,000 House candidates.
This election is particularly significant as it is the first since the introduction of a mandatory voting clause in 2022. The left has consolidated its support around Jara, while the right remains fragmented, fielding three separate candidates.
If no candidate secures an absolute majority, a runoff election will occur on December 14 between the top two candidates. Voters in this scenario will also face fines and maintain the requirement to vote.
For the past 15 days, Chile has prohibited the publication of election polls. However, a Spanish newspaper reported that Hara is expected to lead with 33.6% of the votes, while Kast and Kaiser are neck-and-neck at 20%, with Matei following at 16.2%. This data comes from a survey conducted by La Cosa Nostra between November 3 and November 11.
Janet Hara
Janet Hara, 51, is a former labor minister and represents the far-left coalition “Unity Chile,” aligned with the current president. Recently, she has distanced herself from Boric, suggesting his actions “do not represent me.” Hara’s campaign promises include raising the minimum wage, pension reform, and legalizing safe abortion. She has also voiced a commitment to reform Chile’s policing and prison systems while reducing criminal access to firearms. Interestingly, regarding the United States, she intends to maintain a pragmatic relationship with the Trump administration, acknowledging the election outcome as a decision of the American people.
José Antonio Kast
José Antonio Kast, 59, is making his third attempt at the presidency after previous bids in 2021 and 2017, where he fell short against Boric. Running for the conservative Change for Chile coalition, Kast’s campaign revolves around 33 promises, focusing on tackling illegal immigration, enhancing law and order, and addressing crime. Economically, he pledges to minimize regulations, lower business taxes, and reduce public expenditure while empowering parents in their children’s education.
Johannes Kaiser
Johannes Kaiser, 49, is a parliament member and founder of the National Liberal Party, a breakaway from Kast’s Republican party. Kaiser characterizes Chile as being in a significant crisis stemming from what he calls “21st century Marxism” and promises to protect traditional family values. He also aims to restore compulsory military service and tighten immigration controls, including possible agreements for deporting illegal immigrants linked to organized crime. In his campaign, he insists on shrinking the government and reducing taxes and bureaucracy, suggesting that withdrawal from the Paris climate accord could be on the table if he is elected.
