Chile has officially swung to the right.

Far-right candidate José Antonio Kast won Sunday’s runoff election, becoming Chile’s next president after defeating former labor minister Jeannette Jara. With nearly all votes counted, Kast secured 58% of the vote, marking a major political shift after years of center-left leadership.

Jara quickly conceded, saying democracy had spoken and wishing Kast success, while Kast framed his victory as a mandate to restore order. In his speech, he promised a Chile that “works” and no longer lives in fear — a message that clearly resonated with voters frustrated by rising crime, immigration concerns, and a slowing economy.

Kast’s win is also a personal comeback. After losing to outgoing president Gabriel Boric in 2021, Kast rebranded his campaign around tough-on-crime policies, mass deportations, and harsher sentencing. His security plan, called the “Implacable Plan,” focuses on crackdowns, maximum-security prisons, and isolating cartel leaders.

Critics remain uneasy. Kast has a history of defending Chile’s former dictator Augusto Pinochet, and his socially conservative views — including a total opposition to abortion — sparked backlash during the campaign.

Still, his victory places Chile alongside countries like Argentina and Ecuador, where right-wing leaders have recently surged to power. Kast will be sworn in on March 11, though a divided Congress could limit how far his most aggressive proposals go.