On Sunday 16 November, Chileans will go to the polls to elect President Gabriel Boric successor, who has been barred from running for immediate re-election under the constitution. The vote comes amid deep political polarisation and with security emerging as the primary concern for citizens, pushing economic and social issues that dominated previous elections into the background.
For decades, Chile was considered one of the safest countries in Latin America. And while its homicide rate— 6 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, according to the World Bank - remains low by regional comparison, the country has faced a steady increase in transnational organised crime since 2021: kidnappings, extortion, contract killings and violent robberies attributed to gangs such as the 'Tren de Aragua' have changed the perception of security.
