Chile's presidential elections are heading towards a highly polarized scenario between the ruling coalition candidate Jeannette Jara and the Republican representative José Antonio Kast, who will face each other in a runoff on December 14. To avoid a second round, the winner needed to obtain more than 50% of the votes, which did not happen, according to the Argentine News Agency. The former Minister of Labor and candidate from the left-wing bloc took the lead in this Sunday's elections, but it was not enough for her to be the successor to Gabriel Boric. Ahead of the December 14 elections, Kast is better positioned, having already received the support of other right-wing candidates such as Johannes Kaiser and Evelyn Matthei. A Jara victory would represent a stronger continuity of the progressive bloc, with an emphasis on social policies, labor rights, and a less authoritarian approach. Meanwhile, a Kast victory would signify a turn to the right with a security agenda, more restrictive immigration policies, and conservative measures. December 14 is shaping up as a key date for Chile's political future, and the result could mark a decisive showdown between two very different models of the country.
