Kast’s chilean presidency marks further right-wing gains across latin america in 2025

The inauguration of José Antonio Kast as Chile’s president this Wednesday, January 11, 2025, solidifies a significant regional trend observed in recent years. This shift has consistently interrupted progressive political cycles, ushering conservative governments into power across various Latin American nations, reshaping the political landscape.

Following the recent inaugurations of Rodrigo Paz in Bolivia and Nasry Asfura in Honduras, Kast’s arrival at La Moneda Palace has effectively balanced the scales. The region now sees an equitable distribution of countries led by right-wing and left-wing administrations, indicating a pivotal moment in Latin American politics.

This evolving dynamic suggests a complex interplay of internal and external factors influencing voter sentiment and governmental alignments. The consolidation of these right-leaning governments signals a notable departure from previous progressive dominance, reflecting broader societal shifts and priorities.

Shifting Political Balance in South America

In South America, the number of countries led by right-wing ideologies has expanded to five. Beyond President Kast in Chile and President Paz in Bolivia, this political spectrum is also represented by Javier Milei in Argentina, Santiago Peña in Paraguay, and Daniel Noboa in Ecuador, forming a substantial conservative bloc within the subcontinent.

The left continues to maintain a slight edge, primarily due to recent governmental changes in Peru. After the impeachment of the right-leaning José Jerí, José María Balcázar, identified with the left, assumed the interim presidency. This illustrates the fluid nature of political power in the region.

The progressive balance is further composed of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brazil, Gustavo Petro in Colombia, Yamandú Orsi in Uruguay, Delcy Rodríguez in Venezuela, Irfaan Ali in Guyana, and Jennifer Geerlings-Simons in Suriname. However, two key nations, Colombia and Brazil, are poised for presidential elections later in 2025, in May and October, respectively, which could once again alter the regional political composition.

Right-Wing Expansion in Central America

Central America has also experienced a notable expansion of right-wing influence over recent years. This includes the enduring government of Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, the recent election of Nasry Asfura in Honduras, the ascent to power of José Raúl Mulino in Panama, and Rodrigo Chaves in Costa Rica.

Conversely, leftist governments have demonstrated resilience in countries such as Cuba and Nicaragua. Venezuela, under Delcy Rodríguez, also maintains a left-wing stance, despite a growing alignment with Donald Trump’s administration, particularly after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January 2025.

It is crucial to note that many of Latin America’s largest economies, including Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, currently remain under the leadership of left-wing presidents. This contrast highlights the diverse political leanings that continue to shape the region’s economic and social trajectories, even as the right-wing makes significant electoral gains elsewhere.

Drivers and Challenges for the Right

The growing appeal of right-wing governments in Latin America, leading to a more balanced political landscape, is largely attributable to increasing public concern over security and migratory issues, according to international political risk analyst Felippe Ramos. These issues resonate deeply with populations across the continent.

José Antonio Kast secured his presidential victory in Chile on a “tough-on-crime” platform, notably pledging to expel all irregular migrants from the country starting this Wednesday. This hardline stance on immigration and public safety proved a decisive factor in his electoral success, tapping into widespread public anxieties.

“Security remains the Achilles’ heel for the left, which often advocates for a more social inclusion-oriented vision,” Ramos explains. He adds, “In the current climate, the general population, including the most vulnerable classes disproportionately affected by insecurity, strongly desires a firm hand in governance.”

Aligning with the United States

Despite the programmatic diversity among right-wing administrations, a common thread is their increasing orbit around former U.S. President Donald Trump. This alignment extends even to more moderate governments, highlighting a broader geopolitical shift in the region.

A recent illustration of this trend was the participation of several Latin American presidents, including figures from the center-right and even left-wing leader Irfaan Ali from Guyana, in the “Shield of the Americas” event led by Trump in Florida. This gathering underscored the former U.S. president’s enduring influence and the willingness of regional leaders to engage with him.

During the event, Trump notably declared, in front of Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, that he would not tolerate foreign influence in the Panama Canal and expressed disdain for speaking the “damn language” of most leaders present, referring to Spanish. Despite the apparent diplomatic discomfort, analyst Felippe Ramos suggests that access to Trump is strategically beneficial for regional presidents, especially amidst perceived U.S. threats to various nations.

Ramos argues that major regional economies like Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia are no longer capable of effectively leading multilateral coordination when geopolitical issues arise. The U.S. actions against Venezuela, culminating in the capture of Maduro in January 2025, demonstrated that these regional powers lack the capacity to genuinely lead or protect smaller nations. Consequently, countries, particularly those within the direct sphere of U.S. influence, often feel compelled to seek direct engagement with the U.S., as regional alternatives for protection or leadership are seen as insufficient.

Regional Geopolitical Shifts

This alignment with the United States is prompting a significant pivot in historically unified regional positions, with Cuba serving as one of the most illustrative cases. In 2025, Argentina notably abandoned its three-decade-long stance against the embargo on the communist island, signaling a profound shift in its foreign policy approach. Similarly, Paraguay, which had consistently voted against the blockade since 2015, changed its position in 2024, aligning more closely with U.S. policy. Furthermore, Ecuador departed from its historical opposition to the embargo, opting for abstention in 2024, reflecting a broader trend of recalibrating regional diplomatic strategies in favor of U.S. interests.

The Evolution of the Latin American Right

Gabriel Vommaro, a leading researcher on right-wing movements in Argentina and Latin America and a professor of political sociology at the National University of San Martín, observes a significant strengthening of right-wing political options over the last decade. These options have demonstrated an increased capacity to effectively compete with previously hegemonic movements, such as Peronism in Argentina, thereby reshaping the electoral landscape.

Concurrently, Vommaro notes the rise of a radical right, a phenomenon arguably inaugurated by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. This emergent faction actively challenges established consensuses and pushes the boundaries of what was previously considered acceptable in public discourse, profoundly altering how issues of race, culture, and human rights are addressed.

This reformulation of the right finds a particularly favorable environment with the prospect of Donald Trump’s second term, which provides a significant international impetus. Vommaro emphasizes, however, that Trump has shown a remarkable ability to unify diverse governments around his agenda, encompassing a wide range of programmatic characteristics, including even the more moderate administrations.

“There are two phenomena at play: the consolidation and growth of the right in its diversity as a political offering, and alongside that, the particular ascension of the extreme right,” Vommaro states. He adds, “This is something new in electoral terms in the region, where the extreme right existed previously but with limited influence at the ballot box.” The long-term durability of these governments remains an open question, with recent history showing that political cycles in the region are becoming shorter and re-elections increasingly challenging, as seen with leaders like Macri, Bolsonaro, and Iván Duque who failed to secure continuity.