Chile: A transfer of power under high diplomatic tension

A supporter holds a portrait of José Antonio Kast, presidential candidate of the opposition Republican Party, after results show him leading in the presidential runoff election in Santiago, Chile. AP Photo / Matias Delacroix

On the eve of José Antonio Kast’s inauguration, scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, Chile is holding its breath. While republican tradition demands a smooth transition between the outgoing left-wing president, Gabriel Boric, and his far-right successor, a Chinese submarine cable project has disrupted protocol and reignited the country’s geopolitical divisions.

Elected on December 14, 2025, with 58.3% of the vote against left-wing candidate Jeannette Jara, José Antonio Kast is preparing to take the reins of a country undergoing profound transformation. Leader of the Republican Party and a leading figure of an unapologetic right wing, Kast built his success on promises of strict security, a fight against illegal immigration, and economic liberalism.