Chile's Tense Presidential Runoff: Kast vs Jara Shaping the Nation

José Antonio Kast, born in 1966 in Santiago, Chile, is a lawyer, devout Catholic, father of nine, and founder of the Republican Party. He earned a law degree from the Catholic University of Chile, co-founded a law firm in 1989, and taught civil and commercial law there.[3][2][6] Kast's political career began in the ultra-conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI), where he served as a Buin city councillor (1996-2000) and Chamber of Deputies member (2002-2018), representing Santiago districts. He rose to UDI general secretary but resigned in 2016, criticizing its moderation, and founded the Republican Party in 2019 alongside the Republican Ideas think tank.[1][2][4][6] A firm conservative, Kast opposes abortion (including rape cases), euthanasia, divorce, same-sex marriage, and emergency contraception. He has expressed admiration for Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship, though his legislative record focused on niche issues like statues, nun citizenship, and lotteries.[2][4][6] Born to German immigrants—his father a WWII Nazi Party member who arrived post-war and ran a sausage business—Kast denies family Nazi ties or regime collaboration in Paine.[1][2][4] He ran for president independently in 2017 (7.93% vote) and with Republicans in 2021, winning the first round but losing the runoff to Gabriel Boric. In Chile's December 2025 election, Kast secured a landslide victory with over 58% (more than 7 million votes, a record) against Jeannette Jara, triumphing in every region amid crime and migration fears.[1][2][4][8] As president-elect at age 59, Kast vows an "iron fist" on crime—hunting, judging, and jailing delinquents—plus mass deportations of undocumented migrants, mainly Venezuelans, signaling a far-right shift in South America.[1][2][8] He also leads the Political Network for Values and critiques leftist regimes like Venezuela's.[3][5]

Jeannette Alejandra Jara Román, born on April 23, 1974, in Conchalí, Santiago, Chile, is a Chilean lawyer, public administrator, and politician affiliated with the Communist Party of Chile.[3][5] From a humble background, she worked as a farm worker, street food vendor, and product promoter before studying at the University of Santiago de Chile, where she earned degrees in public administration and a master's in management and public policy, followed by a law degree from Universidad Central.[1][2][5] An early activist, she joined the Communist Youth at age 14, led student protests for democratization post-Pinochet, and served as president of the University of Santiago's student federation in 1997.[1][5] Jara's public career began in the Internal Revenue Service and the Civil Servants’ Association, advancing to roles in the Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Labor.[1] She was Undersecretary of Social Security under President Michelle Bachelet from 2016 to 2018.[3][5][6] In 2022, President Gabriel Boric appointed her Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, a position she held until 2025.[3][4] As labor minister, Jara achieved landmark reforms through tripartite negotiations with employers, unions, and government: reducing the workweek from 45 to 40 hours; increasing the minimum wage by over 50%—the largest real hike in three decades; advancing pension reform after a decade of debate; ratifying ILO Conventions 190 and 176 on workplace violence and safety; and passing laws for work-life balance and harassment prevention.[1][2][4][5] These successes highlighted her negotiation skills and bridged worker and business interests.[1][4] In 2025, Jara won her coalition's presidential primary in June with over 60% of votes, gaining historic Christian Democratic support.[1][3] She topped the first-round presidential election on November 16 with 27%, advancing to a runoff against right-wing José Antonio Kast on December 14, which she lost.[2][3][6] Her campaign emphasized unity, public safety with a social focus, economic security via a $800 monthly living income, infrastructure, and housing, building on Boric-era gains.[2] At 51, Jara remains a key left-wing figure, noted for her pragmatic style over dogmatic communism.[6][7]