Right-wing candidate José Antonio Kast has won the Chilean presidential runoff with 58.30% of the vote, defeating his communist rival Jeannette Jara, who received 41.70%. Jara conceded defeat on social media, making Kast the new president of the country. According to official data from Chile's Electoral Service (Servel), with 95% of the votes counted, Kast held a commanding 17-point lead over his opponent. Kast, a 59-year-old lawyer who had twice previously run for president unsuccessfully, focused his campaign on the issue of security. His opponent, Jeannette Jara, acknowledged Kast's victory on X, stating: "Democracy spoke loud and clear. It's time for politicians to be quiet. Together and standing, as we have always done." Meanwhile, outgoing President Gabriel Boric, who is due to hand over power on March 11, praised the election day as "exemplary" and pledged full institutional support to the newly elected president from the very first moment, in line with the country's republican traditions.
