(MENAFN) Chileans went to the polls on Sunday to choose a new president, with public concerns over crime and migration shaping the election. The race is expected to lead to a December runoff between far-left and far-right candidates, as stated by reports.

Although eight candidates are competing, the leading contenders are Jeannette Jara of the Communist Party, a former minister in President Gabriel Boric’s government, and far-right Jose Antonio Kast, founder of the Republican Party and 2021 runoff runner-up. Recent polling suggests Jara leads with roughly 28% of voter support, while Kast holds about 20%. The traditional right is fragmented, with Johannes Kaiser of the National Libertarian Party gaining 15% and Evelyn Matthei of the Chile Vamos Party at 14%.

Public perceptions of insecurity dominate the campaign. Despite Chile being relatively safe by Latin American standards, an Ipsos survey in October found 63% of adults view crime and violence as their top concern. While the homicide rate remains low at 6 per 100,000, its increase has fueled anxiety. Irregular migration has also become a key campaign issue, with the migrant population—mainly Venezuelans—doubling over seven years to 8.8% of Chile’s 20 million residents. Right-wing candidates have linked undocumented migration to rising crime rates.

The candidates’ proposals highlight deep ideological divides. Jara’s coalition of nine center-left parties emphasizes social continuity, economic reform, and anti-corruption. “On security, she backs an annual investment of $700 million for police and anti-money laundering efforts, which includes lifting banking secrecy to track illicit funds. On migration, Jara supports a mandatory biometric census to identify immigrants and labor integration programs, advocating for a strengthened National Migration System.”

Kast campaigns on a law-and-order platform reminiscent of Chile’s Pinochet era. His “Relentless Plan” includes constructing maximum-security prisons, isolating drug lords, and enforcing stricter sentencing. On immigration, Kast has reiterated his proposal to dig a trench along the northern border and eliminate benefits for irregular migrants in health, housing, and education. His political background, including family ties to the Nazi Party and the Pinochet regime, remains controversial.

Matthei, a 72-year-old economist and veteran politician, prioritizes institutional stability and security, proposing up to 10,000 new police officers, a Military Border Police, and harsher prison conditions. She supports deporting foreign prisoners and criminalizing illegal entry.

Kaiser, an ultraconservative and Pinochet supporter, has emerged as a surprise contender, appealing to young, disillusioned voters with extreme proposals such as mass deportations, refugee camps for deportees, compulsory military service, and even the death penalty for murder and rape.

With mandatory voting laws in place, turnout is expected to rise significantly, adding uncertainty to an already polarized election. The vote sets the stage for a December runoff that will decide Chile’s political direction for the next four years, alongside parliamentary elections scheduled for Nov. 16.

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