Podcast Summary: “John Müller explica las claves de la victoria del ultraderechista Kast en las elecciones de Chile: ‘Ha aflorado una mayoría silenciosa’”

Podcast: Más de uno – OndaCero
Date: December 15, 2025
Host: Carlos Alsina
Guest: John Müller (journalist, analyst, Chilean)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Carlos Alsina delves into the surprising results of the Chilean presidential election, marked by the decisive victory of far-right candidate José Antonio Kast over government candidate Jeannette Jara. With Chile entering a new political chapter, seasoned journalist John Müller offers an in-depth analysis of what these results signal for the country, what lies behind Kast’s overwhelming victory, and the sociopolitical undercurrents at play. The discussion covers historical precedent, ideological symbolism, the influence of immigration and security issues, and the wider shift to the right across Latin America.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Context & Results of the Election

• The episode opens with an update: Chile has completed its presidential runoff. Gabriel Boric, the left-wing outgoing president, is succeeded by José Antonio Kast, “un presidente de extrema derecha” (far-right). Kast won with approximately 58% of the vote against Jeannette Jara's 42%. (00:00-02:00)
• Noteworthy is the smoothness of the transition: both Boric and Kast were cordial despite “las diferencias evidentes e ideológicas” (their clear ideological differences). (01:40-02:00)

The Role of Mandatory Voting and ‘La mayoría silenciosa’

• John Müller highlights a crucial factor: these elections were the first with compulsory voting in Chile.
  • Quote: “El voto obligatorio ha aflorado una mayoría silenciosa de chilenos que no querían ir a las urnas... pero que sin embargo estaban fundamentalmente de acuerdo con el modelo… neoliberal del que se ha hablado durante muchísimos años…” (B, 03:16)
  • This led to participation from approximately 5 million previously abstaining voters—many supporting the current economic model and resisting the left’s diagnosis of its obsolescence. (03:16-04:24)

Pinochet’s Legacy and Kast’s Stance

• Discussion centers on Kast’s open identification with Pinochetism—something new in Chilean democracy since the end of the dictatorship. (04:24-05:13)
  • Quote: “Por primera vez... un candidato llega a ser presidente habiendo manifestado... que Pinochet habría votado por él…” (A, 04:32)
• Müller responds that the country is more right-leaning than previously recognized, and notes the “republican” civility of both candidates’ speeches (05:14).
  • Kast’s victory speech aimed to “tranquilizar a su gente y sobre todo bajar la presión” (calm his followers and lower the political temperature). (05:14-05:45)
• Regarding the Pinochet homage: Müller insists Kast doesn’t hide his past, but contextualizes it as part of Chile’s reconciled democratic transition. He references the controversy around aged military prisoners: “hay un sector importante de la derecha que consideran que algunos… se merecen una medida de gracia…” (B, 08:10)

Immigration and Security: Central Themes

• Kast vigorously campaigned on immigration and security, which resonated strongly with voters.
  • Quote: “La inmigración ha sido voluminosa… debe haber más de 600 mil venezolanos, probablemente más de un millón si contamos los que pueden haber ingresado irregularmente…” (B, 09:47)
• Recent years have seen the perception of insecurity skyrocket, with the arrival of organized crime (notably, El Tren de Aragua).
• Chile’s historically open attitude toward immigration has shifted: “Ahora mismo los chilenos son bastante racistas y xenófobos… Kast ha recogido ese sentimiento…” (B, 10:38)
• Despite tough rhetoric, Kast’s victory speech acknowledged well-integrated foreigners but promised crackdown on illegality.

Influence of Trump and Global Rightward Shift

• Despite similarities, Müller points out Kast is not a mere clone of Trump or Milei (“marca distancias con él... en su relación con la prensa”, B, 11:58).
• The U.S. Ambassador under Trump era adopted an “intervencionista” posture, seeing relations improving with Kast over Boric.

Why a Dramatic Swing to the Right?

• The conversation broadens to the rightward tide in Latin America, including Chile.
  • Quote: “Parece haber un cambio de fondo, cierta decepción con los gobiernos de izquierda…” (B, 13:18)
• Traditional leftist governments are seen as ineffective on major societal issues—especially “confianza social” (social trust).
• Kast declared in his victory speech that he would resign party membership as president: “el presidente no tiene que pertenecer a un partido político, debe gobernar para todos los chilenos…” (B, 14:54)
• This contrasts with historic figures like Allende, who governed explicitly from a partisan perspective.

Pinochet Nostalgia and Political Moderation

• The idea that roughly a third of Chileans view Pinochet’s legacy with some nostalgia is discussed, more as a symptom of disillusionment with mainstream parties and longing for past “bonanza económica” than ideological extremism. (15:45-16:52)
• Quote: “El pinochetismo… en el mundo es sinónimo de crímenes... pero en Chile un gran porcentaje… lo asocia con otra cosa.” (B, 16:52)
• The concept of “mayoría silenciosa” reappears as a decisive factor—Müller traces the term’s origins from Francoist Spain and Nixon’s U.S. (18:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Sobre las razones profundas del resultado
  “Ha aflorado una mayoría silenciosa de chilenos que no querían ir a las urnas… pero que sin embargo estaban fundamentalmente de acuerdo con el modelo, el denostado modelo neoliberal... el voto a Kast lo que hace es que aquel centro derecha que interpretó que había que echarle agua a la leche del neoliberalismo, pues se equivocó.”
  — John Müller [03:16]

• Sobre el gesto institucional chileno comparado con España:
  “Quiero valorar que en Chile todavía el candidato derrotado reconoce la derrota y llama al vencedor y le felicita, cosa que en España ya no ocurre. Quiero valorar los valores republicanos…”
  — John Müller [05:20]

• Sobre el cambio de mentalidad en torno a la inmigración:
  “Chile ha dejado de ser un país abierto hacia la inmigración. Ahora mismo los chilenos son bastante racistas y xenófobos. En este momento hay una xenofobia rampante. Y yo creo que Kast ha recogido ese sentimiento… pero al mismo tiempo ha dicho que agradece a los extranjeros que están en Chile trabajando…”
  — John Müller [10:31]

• Sobre la ola derechista latinoamericana:
  “Se va consolidando una marea azul que el próximo año en Colombia podría tener sus reflejos... los gobiernos de izquierda yo creo que primero no han sido eficaces en los grandes problemas que tiene Iberoamérica…”
  — John Müller [14:16]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | | --------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | 00:00 | Episode introduction & election result summary | | 02:05 | John Müller joins, analysis begins | | 03:16 | Mandatory voting and the “silent majority” | | 04:24 | Significance of Kast’s Pinochetism | | 05:14 | Civic recognition & discourse of Kast | | 07:25 | Pinochet's legacy, implications for democracy | | 09:47 | Immigration, security as central issues in the campaign | | 11:58 | Influence (or lack thereof) of Donald Trump on Kast | | 13:13 | Regional trend: The rightward shift in Latin America | | 15:45 | Nostalgia for Pinochetism; moderation of Chilean politics | | 16:52 | The true meaning of ‘Pinochetista’ today | | 18:03 | "Silent majority" — origin and usage |

Summary

This episode delivers an incisive, well-rounded look at the forces behind Chile’s latest shift to the far right, spearheaded by José Antonio Kast. Müller convincingly demonstrates how the country’s new era of compulsory voting has reactivated a conservative “silent majority,” whose priorities revolve more around economic stability and social order than ideological extremism. The legacy of Pinochet, immigration anxieties, and a region-wide swing to the right all color this pivotal moment for Chile. The conversation is measured, insightful, and context-rich—a must-listen for anyone seeking to understand the new political map of Latin America.

Tone & Style:
Calm, analytical, occasionally humor-tinged, always clear and deeply contextual. Speakers maintain a respectful, thoughtful exchange, open to current complexities without falling into sensationalism.