Major win for ultra-conservative gives Chile its most right-wing president in decades

[TexasTowelie]

Source: AP

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile’s ultra-conservative former lawmaker José Antonio Kast secured a stunning victory in the presidential election Sunday, defeating the candidate of the center-left governing coalition and setting the stage for the country’s most right-wing government in 35 years of democracy.

Kast won 58.2% of the votes as Chileans overwhelmingly embraced his pledge to crack down on increased crime, deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants without legal status and revive the sluggish economy of one of Latin America’s most stable and prosperous nations.

His challenger, communist candidate Jeannette Jara, clinched 41.8% of the vote. She called Kast to concede the election and congratulate him on his successful campaign after his lead became irreversible. Kast’s supporters erupted into cheers in the street, shouting his name and honking horns.

“Democracy spoke loud and clear,” Jara, who served as labor minister in the center-left government of President Gabriel Boric, wrote on social media.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/chile-elections-kast-jara-president-boric-trump-e9ef32b53359f3152ee80d62c106c5f6

[Rhiannon12866]

1. My roommate in boarding school spent a summer in Chile, stayed with a family who she became very fond of

And what has been happening in Chile since she returned broke her heart since she not only feared for the family, but she figured she could never go back.

[kimbutgar]

2. My best friend growing up was from Chile and her German born Mother had to leave under the Pinchot reign in the

Early 70’s seems like Chile is going backwards again after 50 years. Ironically her Mother was from Germany and was part of for the hitler youth and moved to Chile and met her Chilean husband father of my friend. And ironically my friend is married to a Jewish man. She is a great person and we’ve been friends since 1971. I have to talk with her about this next time I see her.

[Lulu KC]

3. I feel sick

This hurts.