Supporters of presidential candidate Jeannette Jara of the Unidad por Chile coalition watch results come in during general elections in Santiago, Chile. (AP Photo)

Governing coalition candidate Jeannette Jara held a narrow lead in Chile’s first-round presidential vote on Sunday, signaling a strong challenge from far-right rival Jose Antonio Kast and underscoring deep political divisions.

With more than half of the ballots tallied, Jara, the first Communist Party member to be a finalist for the Chilean presidency, was holding 27% of the vote versus 24% for Kast.

A December 14 runoff will pit two ideological extremes against each other, as voters prioritize crime and immigration over the progressive reforms that defined the last election.

Jara will face an uphill battle in which her riva

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