Reading Time: 5 minutesSANTIAGO—José Antonio Kast reached the presidency of Chile with a promise as simple as it was effective: the return of order. Backed by classic right-wing issues (the economy, security, and migration) and the concept of an “emergency government,” Kast achieved something rare in the history of the Chilean right: connecting with the broad majority of citizens.
The campaign was meticulously planned. The candidate made few mistakes, and he was surrounded by a cohesive, loyal team. Moreover, in the runoff election, Kast managed to unite all right-wing factions around his candidacy. Thus, when beginning his administration, Kast had a historic opportunity to provide the country with genuine political leadership. He had electoral support, a connection to citizens’ urgent concerns, a polished discourse, and a parliamentary majority within reach. As if that were not enough, the previous left-leaning administration departed from office deeply disoriented and without a future project.
To properly understand this, it is necessary to step back in time. If the slogan of order proved so successful, it was fundamentally because the left failed to properly manage the cycle of mobilizations, protests, and constitutional experiments that began in October 2019.
