Chilean President Gabriel Boric on Sunday congratulated his government’s communist candidate, Janet Jara, and far-right lawmaker Jose Antonio Caste, as presidential election results indicate both are headed for a runoff next month.
With more than half the ballots counted, it appeared that no contender would overcome the 50% threshold needed to avoid a runoff on December 14.
President Boric calls for unity despite candidates’ polarization
With 52.39% of votes counted, 51-year-old Communist Jara, running on behalf of an eight-party coalition, got 26.58% of the votes, while Caste got 24.32%, according to the Serval electoral service.
Recognizing Jara and Caste as the leaders of the eight-candidate field while results were still coming in, Boric expressed hope that “dialogue, respect and love for Chile will prevail over any differences.”
Far-right custodian is favorite to win presidential race
Castro vowed on Sunday to “rebuild” Chile after four years of centre-left rule.
Thirty-nine-year-old Cust is expected to win the run-off, despite a lower turnout than Zara on Sunday.
Sunday was the first presidential election in Chile since voting has been made mandatory and voter registration is automatic, with more than 15.7 million voters out of a national population of more than 18 million obliged to vote. The decision to implement the vote comes after years of poor turnout.
Edited by: Zack Crellin