"Chilean President Gabriel Boric placed a public call to president-elect Jose Antonio Kast from the Southern city of Punta Arenas, where he had earlier cast his vote, to congratulate him on his victory in the presidential runoff on Sunday. "I am calling you in keeping with a fine Republican tradition that fills us with pride and honours us: the call from the sitting President to the president-elect," Boric said, recalling that former President Sebastián Pinera had made the same gesture to him in the past. Boric congratulated Kast on what he described as a ‘clear victory’, telling him he had been elected "President of the Republic of Chile and therefore of all Chileans." He underlined the gravity of the office, saying it must be exercised "with great care, with great humility and with a great deal of work." "Chile is greater than you, than me, than all of us who have passed through office," Boric added, stressing that the country "is built on the basis of what everyone before has done," regardless of personal feelings about the election result. Boric said he had instructed his ministers and senior officials to support the transition process, adding that he would remain available, as a soon-to-be former president, to collaborate “for the good of the country.” "To have the opportunity for you and me to speak face to face, alone for a few minutes, which is always valuable, because you will also come to know at some point what the solitude of power means, and the moments when very difficult decisions must be made," he added. Kast thanked Boric for the call and echoed the need for stability, urging “a very orderly and respectful transition." He also expressed an interest in hearing Boric’s views on the state of the nation when he enters office on March 11. Leader of Chile’s Republican Party, Jose Antonio Kast, was elected as the country’s next president for a four-year term. He secured 58.18% of the vote, defeating the ruling Unity for Chile coalition’s candidate Jeannette Jara, who received 41.82%, after the Electoral Service had counted votes at more than 99.3% of polling stations nationwide."