Chile votes in high-stakes election as crime fears dominate

Agencies:

Chileans voted Sunday in a presidential and parliamentary election dominated by public fears over rising organized crime and irregular migration, with the race expected to tilt toward the right.

None of the eight presidential contenders is forecast to cross the 50% threshold needed to avoid a Dec. 14 runoff, but polls show Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, 51, and far-right former lawmaker Jose Antonio Kast, 59, leading the field.

Despite their ideological gulf, both have campaigned heavily on promises to combat foreign criminal gangs, including Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua, blamed for surging kidnappings, extortion and trafficking.

Analysts say both candidates have moderated their platforms to appeal to centrist voters unsettled by rising insecurity. “They’re vying for the center,” said political scientist Rodolfo Disi.
Trailing behind are libertarian congressman Johannes Kaiser, 49, and veteran center-right politician Evelyn Matthei, 72.