When Messi was visiting India, a big game happened in his country’s neighborhood, leftists were wiped out in Chile’s elections.

While football star Lionel Messi is visiting India, a big game is taking place in his country Argentina’s neighborhood. There has been a major upheaval in the politics of Argentina’s neighbor Chile. Right-wing leader José Antonio Kast has won the presidential election. He has given a crushing defeat to Zeenat Jara, the candidate of the leftist ruling alliance. Kast got more than 58 percent of the votes, even though this was his third attempt for the presidency. The victory is believed to be Chile’s largest rightward swing since the end of the military dictatorship in 1990.

What were the issues of the elections?

During the election campaign, issues like security, crime, illegal immigration and law and order completely dominated. The cast strongly raised the feeling of fear and insecurity among the voters by describing the country as ‘moving towards anarchy’. Addressing supporters after the victory, Caste said, ‘Chile will now be free of crime, free of fear. The lives of criminals are going to change, we will find them, catch them, punish them and put them in jail.

trump style politics

Red ‘Make Chile Great Again’ caps were seen on the heads of supporters celebrating in Santiago, which directly exposed Caste’s ideological closeness to Donald Trump. The cast themselves have been open fans of Trump and their policies also seem to be on the lines of the US President. He supports a border wall, tougher prisons, mass deportations of illegal immigrants and cuts in government spending.

Pinochet’s shadow returns again?

CAST’s victory has also healed the wounds of Chile’s past. He has repeatedly praised dictator Augusto Pinochet, whose rule from 1973 to 1990 was infamous for human rights violations, enforced disappearances and repression. Kast’s brother has been a minister in the Pinochet government and his father has also been accused of being associated with the Nazi Party. Among CAST supporters, some people were seen openly saying that ‘there was peace during the Pinochet era’, while opponents fear that this victory could take Chile back to the same dark period.

Fear of crime or political narrative?

Although Chile still ranks among the safest countries in South America and the murder rate has declined in recent years, the perception of illegal immigration and organized crime deeply affected voters. The cast consistently associated immigrants, especially those from Venezuela, with crime. Critics say that the fear of insecurity was exaggerated. According to several studies, foreign-born people commit less crime on average.