Claudia Heiss, associate professor at the University of Chile: “Polls place Evelyn Matthei as the front-runner in Chile’s upcoming presidential election, though the outcome remains uncertain due to a divided right-wing bloc. Matthei represents the traditional right, backed by Political Evolution, National Renovation and the Democrat Independent Union. Meanwhile, the far right is split between José Antonio Kast of the Republican Party and Johannes Kaiser, who left Kast’s party in 2024 to form the National Libertarian Party. Matthei had hoped for a unifying primary, but the far right chose to assert its independence, weakening the right’s overall chances by running multiple candidates. This fragmentation comes as Chile’s electorate has shifted rightward, prioritizing security and economic stability over social justice following the 2019 social outburst, the pandemic and two failed constitutional reform efforts. This shift has pushed Matthei’s platform…”