Chile will decide its new president between a left-wing candidate and another ultra-conservative

Chile is heading towards a presidential second round particularly close and polarized, after the leftist Jeannette Jara and the far-right José Antonio Kast They will advance to that stage in this Sunday’s elections.

With more than 85% of the tables counted, both candidates ensured their passage to the runoff next December 14according to data from the Electoral Service (Servel).

Jara, former minister of the government of Gabriel Boric and Communist Party member, leads the vote with 26.7%a closer result than anticipated by the polls prior to the electoral ban, the agency reported EFE.

Kast, former ultraconservative deputy, is located second with around 24%which consolidates the hardest right as a force with national projection.

The big surprise was once again the economist and outsider Franco Parisiwho without setting foot in the country and repeating his 2021 virtual strategy, climbed above 19%, with a strong performance in the northern mining regions.

Preliminary results of the Presidential Election. 86.91% of tables scrutinized.

J. Jara: 26.73%
J. Antonio Kast: 24.09%
F. Parisi: 19.47%
J. Kaiser: 13.92%
E. Matthei: 13.94%
H. Mayne-Nicholls: 1.27%
M. Enríquez-Ominami: 1.18%
E. Arts: 0.66% pic.twitter.com/Kik5t9T08D

— Electoral Service (@ServelChile) November 17, 2025

Jara calls to protect democracy and Kast promises to “rebuild the homeland”

After learning the results, Jara assured that Chile “has a future and hope,” but warned of the need to protect democracy before speeches that, without naming him, he attributed to Kast’s entourage.

The communist activist recalled the “hostile campaign” on social networks against the traditional right-wing candidate, Evelyn Matthei, who finished fifth, and defended that “democracy is cared for and valued because it cost too much to recover it.”

At 51 years old, the leftist lawyer became the first figure from his party who could become president since the return to democracy in 1990.

Meanwhile, Kast stated that “the opposition defeated a failed government,” in direct reference to the administration of Gabriel Boric, whose approval rate is around 30%.

From your command, He called for the unity of all forces opposed to the ruling party and maintained that his project seeks to reverse “the damage caused to the country.”

The Republican Party candidate has already received explicit support from Matthei and the far-right Johannes Kaiser, who accompanied him to applause in his speech.

“We require unity,” Kast insisted, while ensuring that the internal differences on the right “do not compare with what is in front.”

Parisi conditions his votes

Once again an electoral referee, Parisi sent a clear message to Jara and Kast: they must earn the support of the 19% of voters who voted for him.

The leader of the People’s Party demanded that both candidates incorporate elements of their political program. These include eliminating VAT on medicines, reducing politicians’ salaries and banishing symbols or slogans associated with both the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and the traditional left.

“My voters are not transferable,” he said, in a message that could tilt a very competitive election.

For his part, outgoing president Gabriel Boric congratulated Jara and Kast, and highlighted the solidity of the Chilean electoral system.

asked “a high-level debate”warning that the country needs to preserve institutions and put democratic coexistence above ideological differences.

The president also called informed citizens to vote in Decemberin a country marked by a long electoral cycle since the 2019 protests and a constant alternation between left and right governments since 2006.