"11/17/2025November 17, 2025 Communist candidate Jeannette Jara and far-right opponent Jose Antonio Kast came first and second in Chile's hotly contested presidential election. They will face off in a runoff on December 14. Communist lawmaker Jeannette Jara and far-right Jose Antonio Kast were set to head to a runoff vote after coming first and second, respectively, in the first round of Chile's presidential election on Sunday. Neither contender passed the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff slated for December 14."
"With 99% of the votes counted, Jara, a 51-year-old communist running on behalf of an eight-party coalition, was on 26.8%, while Kast had acquired 24% of the vote, according to the Servel electoral service. "Don't let fear harden your hearts," Jara said after she took the lead during the vote count. Recognizing Jara and Kast as leaders of the eight-candidate field even as results were still coming in, Chile's current president Gabriel Boric expressed hope that "dialogue, respect and love for Chile will prevail over any differences.""
"Fifty-nine-year-old Kast is tipped to win the run-off, despite polling lower than Jara on Sunday. Sunday was the first presidential election in Chile since voting has been made mandatory and the registration of voters automatic, with over 15.7 million voters obliged to vote out of a national population of over 18 million. The decision to enforce voting came after years of poor voter turnout."
Jeannette Jara, a 51-year-old communist representing an eight-party coalition, led the first round with about 26.8% while far-right Jose Antonio Kast trailed with about 24%. Neither candidate surpassed the 50% threshold, triggering a runoff on December 14. Jara urged voters not to let fear harden their hearts. President Gabriel Boric called for dialogue, respect and love for Chile amid the polarized field. Kast vowed to "rebuild" Chile after four years of center-left rule and is widely tipped to win the runoff. The election was the first under mandatory voting and automatic registration, obliging over 15.7 million voters.
Read at www.dw.com
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