Name: Chileans vote in election dominated by crime, immigration
Uploaded: 2025-11-16T18:44:09.335Z
Duration: 2 min 47 s
Description: Chileans are picking a new president and congress in one of the most divisive elections in recent times. At stake is whether the South American country stays on its current center-left course - or like its neighbour Argentina, makes a sharp turn to the political right.

Chileans are picking a new president and congress in one of the most divisive elections in recent times. At stake is whether the South American country stays on its current center-left course - or like its neighbour Argentina, makes a sharp turn to the political right.

Santiago

Chile is holding a presidential election notable for several firsts, including the participation of the first Communist Party candidate and the introduction of mandatory voting for resident migrants. The race is highly polarized, with candidates ranging from the far right to the far left, reflecting a broader global trend toward political extremes.

Leading the polls is Janet Jara, the Communist Party candidate representing the current center-left coalition, while conservative candidates Johannes Kaiser, José Antonio Cast, and Evelyn Maté also compete for votes. Despite Jara's lead, a runoff is expected, and with approximately 20% of voters still undecided, the outcome remains uncertain.

Chileans vote in election dominated by crime, immigration

An election of firsts. The first Communist Party candidate running for president. The first time that resident migrants will be obliged to vote. And the first time that leading candidates are so polarized. On the extreme right, Johannes Kaiser, whose surname means emperor in German. He vows to impose order to restore the, quote, empire of the law. He's ultra-conservative, ultra-right wing, and a staunch defender of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. I don't buy the story of the human rights organizations. They are always protecting terrorists, delinquents and narco-traffickers. Also of German origin, but less extreme, is the staunchly conservative José Antonio Cast. He's the law and order candidate, an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, who founded the Republican Party here, and promises to make Chile great again. We will be the ones who started March the 1st. We'll declare an emergency government that Chile needs for radical change. The third candidate of German descent is Evelyn Maté, from Chile's traditional right-wing coalition. She's an economic conservative, liberal on social values, and who's the most politically experienced of all the contenders. Chile wants order, justice, security, opportunities. Chile wants to believe again in the future of our country. Maté was initially the favorite, but unless the polls are way off, she's now trailing in fourth place. Leading in all public opinion surveys is Janet Jara, the communist, from humble origins, who's representing the current center-left government coalition. In four years, we can make this country get back on the right track, with an economic growth that will reach beyond the business sector to the ordinary citizen. But Jara will have an uphill battle in an expected runoff, when presumably conservatives join forces. Since this country returned to democracy in 1990, Chileans have never voted for a president from any of the political extremes. But it is a trend that is spreading throughout the world right now. If the polls are right, Chile may not be the exception. Guessing the winner won't be easy, though, since approximately 20% of voters say they're still undecided about for whom to vote. Lucia Newman, Al Jazeera, Santiago.

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