138. Human rights are no longer a priority

Citizens of Chile have elected a candidate similar to those in countries like India, Italy, Brazil, and the USA, where ultra-conservative right-wing leaders have been effectively addressing major issues such as corruption, developmental problems, inflation, employment, health, declining per capita income, and increasing violence.

It was not surprising, but rather a reflection of a right-wing wave sweeping Latin America, with victories this year in Ecuador, Bolivia, and Argentina.

Right from the start, it was a straightforward contest between a Leftist and an ultra-conservative candidate in Chile’s presidential elections. And the latter won by a substantial margin.

José Antonio Kast, a former congressman, has been elected Chile’s next president with 59.16 per cent of the vote. In contrast, leftist candidate Jeannette Jara, a former labour minister under President Gabriel Boric, received 41.84 per cent. This was Kast’s third attempt at the presidency.

Kast, the son of a Nazi party member and a committed Catholic who opposes abortion and same-sex marriage, based his campaign on a promise to expel tens of thousands of undocumented migrants. He also admires dictator Augusto Pinochet.

Over the last ten years, the migrant population has doubled, driven by roughly 700,000 Venezuelans fleeing their country due to its economic collapse.

Kast repeatedly blamed migrants for increasing insecurity. During the campaign, he issued an ultimatum: leave before the next president's inauguration on March 11, or face expulsion with only the clothes they are wearing.

José Antonio Kast’s win has been widely praised by international right-wing leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, Italy’s Giorgia Meloni, Argentina’s Javier Milei, and Elon Musk on X.

However, it is a continuation of the alternation of power between left and right since the country returned to democracy in 1991.

Kast's approach, inspired by Trump, includes constructing detention centers, erecting five-meter-high walls, installing electric fences, digging three-meter-deep trenches, and boosting military presence along the border. 

What concerns me is Kast openly declaring himself as an admirer of Augusto Pinochet, under whose regime approximately 40,000 people were tortured and over 3,000 killed. 

Considering his family background, his admiration for dictators, and his hostility towards immigrants, the outcome would be concerning for Chile’s democratic system.

Colombia’s leftist president, Gustavo Petro, issued a stark warning: “From the south and from the north come the winds of death … Fascism advances.”

From a broader perspective, we see that under Trump's presidency, the US is working to gain access to regional resources while actively countering Chinese influence by supporting the rise of US-aligned governments.

The US has been indicating that human rights are no longer a top priority and that the repercussions for violations have been considerably diminished.

Kast began on a positive note, stating in his victory speech that no single person or party had won—Chile and hope had—the hope of living without fear. 

At the moment, we have no option but to believe him.