José Antonio Kast Sworn in as President of Chile in Valparaíso
José Antonio Kast officially assumed the presidency of Chile this Wednesday in a ceremonious event held in the coastal city of Valparaíso. The ceremony drew parliamentarians from across the political spectrum and welcomed a dozen heads of state and government from around the globe, including King Felipe VI of Spain and the Argentinian President, Javier Milei.
“Sì, juro,” stated the 60-year-old conservative ex-deputy, succeeding the progressive Gabriel Boric. The new President received the presidential sash and the O’Higgins medal from the new President of the Senate, Paulina Núñez, in the Senate’s Honor Hall.
Taking office, Kast pledged to advance a government focused on “emergency” responses, prioritizing security and enacting a strict immigration policy, which incorporates an ambitious deportation plan.
Notable absences included the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. Despite expectations, Lula da Silva from Brazil was also absent due to “scheduling issues,” though Brazilian media speculates his absence was linked to the presence of Flávio Bolsonaro, son of former President Jair Bolsonaro.
In his bid for presidency, Kast garnered substantial support by promising a rigid stance against criminality and the deportation of approximately 340,000 irregular migrants, primarily Venezuelans. He remarked during his campaign, “Este gobierno generó caos, desorden e inseguridad. Y nosotros vamos a ir a la inversa,” highlighting the existing public sentiment of Chile being a country heavily impacted by rising crime, although crime rates are still lower than in other South American nations.
This event is part of a broader conservative wave sweeping through Latin America, coinciding with the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States. During the last week, differences in foreign policy approaches between Kast and Boric came to light, especially regarding a Chinese investment project involving a fiber optic cable between Hong Kong and Valparaíso, causing tension between Washington and Santiago.
Nevertheless, both leaders vowed to move past differences to ensure a seamless transfer of command on Wednesday.
Further cementing his commitment to govern for all Chileans, Kast resigned from the Republican Party—which he founded in 2019. This act mirrors precedents set by former presidents Patricio Aylwin and Sebastián Piñera, who also resigned from their respective parties during their terms.
José Antonio Kast, a father of nine, embraces conservative viewpoints opposing abortion even in cases of rape, emergency contraceptive pills, divorce, same-sex marriage, and euthanasia. Despite his long political career, spanning 30 years, Kast is often likened to right-wing leaders like Jair Bolsonaro and Javier Milei but maintains a less charismatic and more traditional conservative persona.
Throughout his legislative tenure, Kast was instrumental in passing laws for statues, selling reading glasses without prescriptions, and regulating lotteries, subsequently capturing public favor by committing to tackle crime head-on and addressing the irregular immigration situation.
Team V.DIR-EM-UAE
