Event Summary
In Chile, the final days of the election campaign are underway, which will take place on 16 November 2025, the date on which citizens will elect the future president, senators and deputies.
This context is worth observing for several reasons, including the polarization that can be seen among the candidates and the likelihood of a runoff, since the presidential seat will be awarded to the candidate obtaining more than half of the valid votes cast. On one hand, this reinforces the legitimacy of a democratic process; on the other, it broadens the uncertainty regarding the potential transformations and their implications for the enabling environment for civil society.
In this regard, it is important to note that some candidates have made statements about issues that could considerably affect the enabling environment for civil society. For example, Johannes Kaiser, in a campaign event in southern Chile, mentioned his intentions to withdraw from international treaties and agreements such as the Escazú Agreement, the 2030 Agenda, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
In addition, the candidate José Antonio Kast announced, as part of his campaign promises, a reduction of public spending by 6.000 millions pesos within the first 18 months of his government and an estimated 21.000 million pesos. Although he has not specified in which areas would be affected, the proposal has been criticized, as many argue that it would be impossible to implement such a reduction without affecting social benefits—some of which involve the work of civil society organizations.
Finally, over the past month, numerous debates between candidates have taken place, contributing to a more informed election process—at least regarding the central topics discussed in those debates, such as security, the economy, health, education, and migration.