Santiago: Earlier this month, Chilean voters delivered a decisive victory to far-right candidate Jose Antonio Kast, marking the country's most significant shift to the right since the end of Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship more than three decades ago. In his first speech as president-elect, Kast outlined a hardline approach to law and order, pledging tougher measures against criminals and the deportation of irregular migrants who break the law.
According to Anadolu Agency, the result was the latest indication of a broader rightward shift in Latin American politics. In 2025, presidential elections were held in four countries in Latin America, with all the winners emerging from conservative-leaning or right-wing political forces. In Ecuador, right-wing President Daniel Noboa consolidated his hold on power, securing a second term in April. In Bolivia, center-right Senator Rodrigo Paz Pereira won the presidential runoff in October, marking a shift away from the leftist Movimiento al Socialismo party, which had dominated the country's politics for decades. That same month, Argentina's far-right President Javier Milei led his party to a landslide victory in midterm elections, securing 40.8% of the nationwide vote.
Honduras also held general elections on Nov. 30, which were closely contested and followed by weeks of delays amid technical failures, security concerns in the vote-reporting system, and allegations of voter fraud. Final results announced by the country's election council showed conservative candidate Nasry Asfura winning the presidency with 40.3% of the vote, narrowly defeating center-right candidate Salvador Nasralla. Asfura, who was backed by the US, has said he is ready to govern following the tight outcome.
Analysts say the rise of right-wing and far-right politics marks a pendulum swing away from the 'pink tide' of the 1990s and 2000s, when left-wing governments dominated much of Latin America. "The trend appears to be shifting in the opposite direction, with a turn to the right and, in some cases, to the far right, as seen in Argentina and more recently in Chile," Consuelo Thiers from the University of Edinburgh told Anadolu. Experts point to widespread voter frustration over persistent crime, economic instability, unemployment, and corruption as key drivers of the shift.
Several of Latin America's newly elected right-wing leaders enjoy strong backing from the US and President Donald Trump, who publicly urged voters in countries such as Argentina and Honduras to support his preferred candidates. William A. Booth from University College London's Institute of the Americas described Trump as a key factor in legitimizing far-right figures. Thiers, however, noted that many Latin American governments are seeking to balance relations between Washington and Beijing.
Several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Haiti, and Peru, are set to hold presidential elections in 2026, with analysts predicting continued polarization. Booth from University College London believes Brazil's left-wing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva remains well-positioned, though he warned of potential US interference. In Colombia, Booth said conservative forces face challenges due to lingering public backlash against former president Alvaro Uribe. Costa Rica's presidential race remains competitive but constrained, leaving limited space for far-right candidates. Peru's left has been weakened by years of political turmoil. "It's very hard to know what will happen in Haiti," Booth said, noting ongoing international interventions.