Chile’s presidential race headed to tense runoff between communist and hard

Voters wait in line to cast ballots at a polling station during the presidential election in Santiago, Chile, on Sunday. Cristobal Olivares/Bloomberg/Getty Images Santiago, Chile AP —

The communist candidate of Chile’s center-left government, Jeannette Jara, and a hard-right veteran politician, José Antonio Kast, will vie for the country’s presidency in a runoff vote next month after neither gained a winning margin in a polarized election on Sunday, the government said.

With nearly 80% of the vote counted and results still trickling in, Chile’s left-wing President Gabriel Boric recognized Jara and Kast as the front-runners headed to the second round of elections, scheduled for Dec. 14.

“I trust that dialogue, respect and love for Chile will prevail over any differences,” Bori