"Chilean version of Trump"? Chile elects the most right-wing president since Pinochet

Chile's political landscape is experiencing the most significant rightward shift in decades, with a leader promising to emulate tough border policies and return to orthodox free-market principles set to take the helm. This victory not only reshapes the geopolitical map of Latin America but also firmly aligns these crucial mineral supply countries with the Western conservative camp, marking a decisive turn in the country's economic and security strategy. According to CCTV News, on December 14 local time, Chile held the second round of presidential elections. The far-right Chilean Republican Party candidate José Antonio Kast's campaign team announced his victory. He defeated his opponent Jeannette Jara with 58% of the vote. This margin of victory marks one of the most lopsided electoral records in Chile since the return to democracy in 1990. Kast is seen as a potential ally of U.S. President Donald Trump, indicating that voters' concerns about public safety and illegal immigration have overshadowed other issues. Kast's election adds new momentum to the resurgence of right-wing political forces in Latin America and provides the White House with a new regional ally in its anti-immigration policies. For global markets, this incoming president not only controls the world's largest copper producer and the second-largest lithium producer, but his radical fiscal austerity commitments and deregulation plans will also have far-reaching impacts on the investment environment. The 59-year-old Kast does not deny his support for the free-market foundations laid by the right-wing regime of Augusto Pinochet. He will officially take office in March next year, facing the challenge of curbing the surge in violent crime that has increasingly alarmed the Chilean public, while also needing to boost the significantly slowed economic growth in recent years. "Trump Ally" Wins, Committed to Fighting Crime and Immigration Control Kast's campaign centers on addressing the growing public concern over safety in Chile. Although Chile was once one of the safest countries in Latin America, recent spikes in violent carjackings, kidnappings, and shootings have led many to blame the influx of illegal immigrants, particularly from Venezuela. According to OECD data, the proportion of foreign-born individuals in Chile's total population has surged from 2.1% in 2010 to nearly 10%. To this end, Kast has proposed a series of radical border control measures. He has pledged to build a 16-foot-high wall and a 10-foot-deep trench along the desert border with Peru and Bolivia in northern Chile, and to deploy soldiers equipped with thermal imaging drones for patrols. Additionally, Kast stated that the government would detain and deport undocumented immigrants, and during his campaign, he claimed that illegal immigrants in Chile would be banned from working, using public services, or remitting money to their home countries. "Chile will no longer be a paradise for illegal immigrants," Kast previously stated: "We will not make their lives easy; we will make it impossible." This tough stance resonates with voters. According to a poll by Ipsos last month, 63% of Chilean respondents identified crime and violence as their primary concerns. Return to Free Market and Fiscal Austerity In the economic field, Kast also advocates for bold reforms, attempting to restore the economic vitality of Chile as it was in the 1990s. In recent years, Chile's average annual economic growth rate has slowed to around 2%, in stark contrast to the previous high growth rate of over 6%. Kast plans to attract investment by lowering corporate taxes and reducing regulations. He has promised to cut public spending by $6 billion within 18 months of taking office, which accounts for about 2% of Chile's economic output. The incoming Republican senator Rodolfo Carter stated that focusing on stopping illegal immigration and crime is a prerequisite for restoring economic growth: "Without safety and certainty on the streets, there is no investment, and thus no jobs." As a major supplier of key raw materials for global renewable energy, Chile's policy direction is closely watched by global mining investors. Kast emphasized that he will continue to support free trade and views the trade-based economic success model as a benchmark, even in the context of rising global trade barriers. The election results are also seen as a potential boon for U.S. influence in the Latin American region. Jennifer Pribble, a Latin American issues expert at the University of Richmond, believes that Kast will be Trump's next natural ally in the Americas, signaling a strengthening of the right-wing network in the Western Hemisphere. In terms of foreign policy, Kast's allies have indicated a desire to establish closer ties with the United States. Rodolfo Carter stated that in terms of cultural and political alliances, Chile's affiliation is with the West, with the U.S. as the primary ally