Chile sees Sichel slip and Kast climb ahead of Election Day

The presidential race in Chile is changing.

Previously, former Social Development Minister Sebastián Sichel featured as a strong competitor, cultivating an image as a center-right moderate strong enough to defeat the country’s burgeoning left wing. The strategy seemed to pay off initially, earning him a victory in Chile’s right-wing primaries and putting him second in early polls. 

But now his candidacy looks to be collapsing fast.

Recent polls from a wide variety of consultancy firms show far-right wildcard José Antonio Kast climbing considerably to reach second spot, with Mr. Sichel falling to as far as fourth place in some polls, being overtaken by centrist former Senate President Yasna Provoste in third.

Left-wing candidate Gabriel Boric remains in the lead, but his polling numbers have taken a slight dip as Election Day approaches. Mr. Kast and Ms. Provoste, meanwhile, have seen their stock steadily improve, turning what at one point seemed to be a two-horse race into a far more complex competition.

Sichel being...