The first round of Chile's presidential election was marked by divided opinions on how to combat insecurity and organized crime, a problem that is worsening as transnational gangs consolidate their presence in the country.
The main difference between Jeannette Jara, who received 26.8% of the vote, and José Antonio Kast, who received 23.9%, comes from their approach to security, an issue that has become one of the country's biggest concerns. The two candidates will compete for the presidency in a second round on December 14.
According to the latest study According to the Center for Public Studies (Centro de Estudios Públicos – CEP), 60% of Chileans consider crime, and particularly theft and assault, to be the country's main problem. This growing perception of insecuritywhich was also supported by the growing presence of transnational criminal networks in the country, brought security approaches to take center stage in the electoral campaign.
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Jara, a candidate for the ruling Unity for Chile (Unidad por Chile) coalition, has proposed a social and territorial approach to security that combines prevention, a greater state presence in neighborhoods affected by drug trafficking, and the strengthening of intelligence and police forces under civilian control. His electoral program also included restricting access to weapons, targeting the financial flows of organized crime by lifting banking secrecy laws and modernizing the prison system, with an emphasis on rehabilitation and increasing prison capacity.
Kast, the Republican Party (Partido Republicano) candidate, promoted a “tough on crime” approach focused on regaining territorial control by deploying the Chilean National Police (Carabineros), investigative police (Policía de Investigaciones de Chile – PDI) and armed forces, as well as tightening immigration policy with border closures and accelerated expulsions. He also encouraged the expansion of the prison system with maximum security facilities and strengthening intelligence and financial prosecution of organized crime.
InSight Crime Analysis
The second round of voting in December will determine whether Chile opts for immediate punitive policies or to strengthen its state's capacity to fight organized crime, which has become one of the most pressing political issues.
The expansion of transnational organized crime groups has led to unprecedented levels of violence and criminal control in Chile. Gangs like Train from AraguaTHE Pulposand other networks operating in the shadow of First Capital Command (Primer Comando Capital – PCC) took advantage of institutional weaknesses to consolidate their expansion.
In Chile, Tren de Aragua maintains the most imposing presence. Gang-linked cells recruit local residents, co-opt national gangs and have gained influence within prisons. They also engaged in targeted actions kidnappings, human traffickingextortion and drug trafficking. The Pulpos, for its part, operates mainly in metropolitan areas since 2021 until extortion networks targeting Peruvian migrant business owners. They demand monthly payments and use bombings and other violence to maintain control.
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Despite numerous large-scale operations in 2025, these organizations remained active, demonstrating that while police pressure is necessary, it has not been sufficient to reduce their operational capacity.
Faced with this scenario, the December runoff represents a battle between two opposing security strategies: a “tough on crime” approach aligned with other punitive measures implemented in El Salvador, Honduras and Ecuador, and an approach that seeks to strengthen institutional capacity through intelligence, state coordination and structural reforms.
In Chile, concerns about violence and the demand for quick security gains have created fertile ground for the type of approach Kast is proposing, focused on a greater police and military presence, stricter border controls and a harsher prison system. On the other hand, strengthening institutions as a means of combating crime requires time, resources and stronger state coordination.
Beyond the presence of Tren de Aragua, Pulpos and other transnational networks, Chile is faced with structural challenges which complicate its fight against organized crime. Insufficient interinstitutional coordination, legislative delays in information and financial monitoring, prison systemand signs of emerging corruption within the country's security forces are among the factors that will limit the scope and speed of any long-term strategy.
Jara's proposed measures aim to close some of these gaps through increased civilian oversight, strengthening state surveillance mechanisms, and granting new powers to track the financial flows of organized crime. However, its program only partially responds to these challenges, which still depend on better institutional coordination, a reduction in the legislative time necessary to implement key reforms and a real strengthening of the operational capacity of the State.
Featured image: Chile's presidential election was marked by growing security concerns. Credit: Getty Images and CNN
