José Antonio Kast defeats Jeannette Jara in Chile’s Dec. 14 runoff with 58% of votes, signaling a rightward shift as he prepares to assume office in March 2026.
Newsroom (16/12/2025 Gaudium Press ) José Antonio Kast, leader of the Republican Party, has been elected president of Chile, reversing his narrow defeat in the first-round vote and securing a commanding victory in the Dec. 14 runoff against Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara.
With 99.97% of ballots counted, Kast captured 58% of the vote, exceeding pre-election polls that forecasted him winning more than 55%. Jara received 42%, resulting in a margin of more than 2 million valid votes. The outcome represents a significant political shift for Chile, ending the tenure of leftist President Gabriel Boric and paving the way for a right-leaning administration.
Kast is scheduled to take office on March 11, 2026, alongside legislators elected in the November general election.
Jara promptly conceded defeat, acknowledging the results in a post on X. “Democracy has spoken loud and clear. I have just spoken with president-elect Kast to wish him success for the good of Chile,” she wrote. She added a message to her supporters: “To those who supported us and were mobilized by our campaign, rest assured that we will continue working to advance toward a better life in our country. Together and standing strong, as we have always done.”
In his victory speech before thousands of supporters in Santiago, Kast described the day as one of profound joy, coinciding with Gaudete Sunday in the Catholic liturgical calendar. “It’s a special day. It’s a day that stays with us, a day that stands out among the different days when things happen. And this is a day of joy,” he said.
Kast expressed gratitude to his wife, María Pía Adriasola, calling her “a tremendous first lady,” and emphasized his passion for politics as a privilege rather than a sacrifice. He invoked faith prominently: “But nothing would be possible if we didn’t have God. And that’s something we can’t fail to acknowledge.” He prayed for divine guidance in wisdom, temperance, and strength.
The president-elect framed his win as a triumph for the nation: “Here, a person didn’t win, a political party didn’t win; Chile won. The hope of living without fear won. That fear that causes so much anguish to families. The Chile that works, the Chile that gets up early, the Chile that raises its families and its children with great sacrifice — that Chile won.”
Kast pledged to restore responsibility and respect for the law across all regions, “without exceptions and without privileges.” He thanked supporters from other candidates, including Johannes Kaiser, and addressed ideological differences with Jara — referred to in some statements as Janeth Jara — calling for respect to bridge divisions. “Someone may have a different ideology, but he or she is a person just like us,” he stressed.
Born in Santiago in 1966, Kast is a lawyer and veteran politician. A practicing Catholic affiliated with the Schönstatt Apostolic Movement, he has been married to María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet since 1991 and is father to nine children. Kast previously served as a city councilor and four-term deputy in the Chamber of Deputies. He identifies as “simply on the right” and founded the Republican Party in 2019 after running independently in 2017 and for the party in 2021.
While Kast has long defended “life from conception to natural death,” his latest campaign prioritized addressing crime, violence, and unauthorized immigration over social issues. He proposed that approximately 336,000 migrants without legal status voluntarily return home, contributing to travel costs, or face permanent bans and deportation if they remain.
In debates, Kast acknowledged concerns raised by critics, including Archbishop Sergio Pérez de Arce of Concepción, who opposed abrupt expulsions. Kast moderated his tone, noting the role of criminal gangs in exacerbating migration issues and affirming the state’s duty to enforce laws while distinguishing it from the Church’s mission of charity and solidarity.
The standing committee of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference congratulated Kast, entrusting him with leading the nation toward the common good in challenging times. The bishops highlighted the election as renewing hope for a “more just, fraternal, and supportive country, where the power of reason always prevails over the rationale of force.” They urged promotion of dialogue and respect to rebuild social trust, expressed concern over denigration of migrants and vulnerable groups, and placed Kast under the protection of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Chile’s patroness.
- Raju Hasmukh with files from CNA and ACI Prensa
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