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José Antonio Kast

José Antonio Kast

President of Chile (inaugurated March 11, 2026)

Appears in 2 stories

Notable Quotes

"Anyone who attacks a Carabinero attacks all of us, and I promise we will pursue them, find them, prosecute them and put them behind bars." — Inauguration speech, March 11, 2026

“Chile is living through one of the deepest security crises in its history,” Kast campaign platform statement (cited by AS/COA).

"I will advance a government of national unity on priority issues: security, health, education, and housing," Kast statement after meeting Boric, December 15 (NPR).

Stories

Chile reverses state-led mining strategy as Kast takes office

Rule Changes

In office

Chile produces roughly a quarter of the world's copper and holds the largest lithium reserves on Earth. On March 11, 2026, José Antonio Kast was sworn in as president with a mandate to reverse his predecessor's state-led approach to these resources—scrapping plans for a national lithium company and opening the sector to broader private investment. The shift puts an estimated $105 billion in stalled mining projects back in play.

Updated Apr 23

Chile picks José Antonio Kast in a 20-point runoff blowout, turning the page on the Boric era

Rule Changes

Won the 2025 runoff; prepares to take office March 11, 2026

Chile's presidential race ended decisively on December 14 when José Antonio Kast defeated Jeannette Jara by about 20 points in the runoff. The country chose a mood: fear of crime and anger over disorder. Now, two months before his March 11 inauguration, Kast has unveiled a 24-minister cabinet dominated by technocrats and independents rather than party loyalists—a signal that he intends to govern pragmatically despite his hardline campaign rhetoric.

Updated Feb 6