The decisive victory of Kast reflects the electorate’s shift toward a demand for order and certainty, highlighting the limits of political promises and the real capabilities of governance.

The resounding victory of José Antonio Kast reflects the emergence of a new political cleavage in Chile, marked by order, security, and the crisis of the state, which displaces the historic democracy–authoritarianism axis.

The 2025 presidential election confirms a profound political realignment in Chile: the historic dictatorship–democracy cleavage no longer structures voting behavior, having been displaced by a new axis of conflict that emerged from the cycle opened in 2019.

The Chilean runoff revives the dilemma between a worn-down governing coalition and a right wing that arouses democratic misgivings, raising the question of whether the country will repeat its history or open a new path.

Chile reaches the second round with high turnout and a political system shaken by fragmentation and the end of old balances.

The Chilean social outbreak of 2019 was the result of an accumulation of frustrations over unfulfilled expectations, a lack of institutional adaptation, and a growing disconnect between citizens and the state.