Chile election: Jara and Kast on course for December runoff DW 11/17/2025

"Chilean President Gabriel Boric has congratulated his government's communist candidate, Jeannette Jara, and far-right lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast as the pair seemed set for a presidential run off on December 14. Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Sunday offered his congratulations to his government's communist candidate, Jeannette Jara, and far-right lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast, as presidential elections results seemed to indicate the two are headed for a runoff next month."

"With 52.39% of the votes counted, Jara, a 51-year-old communist running on behalf of an eight-party coalition, was on 26.58%, while Kast had acquired 24.32% of the vote, according to the Servel electoral service. Recognizing Jara and Kast as leaders of the eight-candidate field even as results were still coming in, Boric expressed hope that "dialogue, respect and love for Chile will prevail over any differences.""

"Kast vowed on Sunday to "rebuild" Chile following four years of center-left rule. Fifty-nine-year-old Kust 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."

Chilean President Gabriel Boric congratulated both communist candidate Jeannette Jara and far-right lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast as voting results indicated a likely runoff on December 14. With 52.39% of ballots counted, Jara had 26.58% and Kast 24.32% according to Servel, with neither reaching the 50% threshold to avoid a second round. Boric called for dialogue, respect and love for Chile to prevail over differences. Kast vowed to "rebuild" Chile after four years of center-left rule and is tipped to win the runoff despite polling lower on election night. The vote was the first since mandatory voting and automatic registration began, obliging over 15.7 million voters.

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