Chile will head to a presidential runoff between the Republican Party's right-wing Jose Antonio Kast and the left-wing Gabriel Boric, candidate of the "I Support Reputation" alliance, in December.
The two leading candidates will contest the presidency on Dec. 19, after obtaining 27.9% and 25.8% of the votes respectively, after 98% of votes have been counted, according to the Chilean Electoral Service (Servel).
Almost 15 million Chileans are called to elect Sebastian Pinera's successor, who will take the reins of a country in turmoil after a social crisis broke out in 2019 when the Chilean people took to the streets to demand better health care, a quality education, and economic equity.
More than 7.1 million votes were cast in the elections and the turnout rate was 47%.
Boric, a 35-year-old former student leader, who described himself as an environmentalist and feminist, represents many of the social movements behind the social protests. He has promised to implement a wealth tax, quality education, better pensions and to reduce the weekly working hours.
Kast, a 55-year-old lawyer and former deputy, who in the past has shown his sympathy for the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, has anti-immigration rhetoric and has spoken out against abortion. He has said he wants the Police to have the "right and duty" to confront vandals.
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