In a development that underscores the polarized state of Chilean politics, leftist candidate Jeannette Jara and her rightist opponent, José Antonio Kast, are set to face off in a decisive second round of elections this December. This announcement comes from Chile’s current president, Gabriel Boric, as reported by Reuters, following a first round of voting that took place on Sunday.
In this initial electoral phase, none of the candidates managed to secure the requisite majority to claim the presidency outright. Jeannette Jara, who has a background as a former minister and enjoys the backing of the current administration, has emerged as the left-wing contender in this high-stakes race.
The preliminary results indicate that Jara has garnered a narrow lead over Kast, who represents the far-right faction of Chilean politics, according to reports from AFP. Meanwhile, Johannes Kaiser, another far-right candidate who participated in Sunday’s election, has conceded defeat and has pledged his support to Kast as they both prepare for the upcoming challenge.
As the campaign intensifies, all eyes will be on the candidates as they strive to sway the electorate ahead of this pivotal showdown.
