"Even before Jose Antonio Kast popped into his high-altitude restaurant for a plate of alpaca ribs, Carlos Valdebenito Pacheco was set on voting for the ultra-conservative favourite to become the next president of Chile. Without a doubt 100%, enthused the 55-year-old waiter from Visviri, an isolated Andean outpost more than 4,000 metres above sea level on Chile's triple border with Bolivia and Peru."
"Polls suggest many of Chile's 15 million voters agree. Heading into Sunday's first round, the ruling coalition's Communist party candidate, Jeannette Jara, leads the race, with 25% of expected votes to Kast's 23%. But political observers believe Kast, 59, an admirer of the dictator Augusto Pinochet known for his opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage, is likely to win a 14 December runoff, continuing a rightward tilt in South America."
Jose Antonio Kast campaigns on hardline security and immigration policies that resonate with voters in remote Andean communities. Supporters praise his authoritarian approach, comparing him to leaders like Nayib Bukele. Polls show the Communist party candidate Jeannette Jara leads slightly, but observers expect Kast to reach a runoff and possibly win a December runoff, extending a regional rightward shift. Radical libertarian Johannes Kaiser is gaining support and could challenge Kast. Kast's positions include opposition to abortion and same-sex marriage and admiration for Augusto Pinochet, aligning him with global rightwing figures.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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