Who is Chile's new far-right president Jose Antonio Kast? • FRANCE 24 English

Key Concepts

• Jose Antonio Kast: Arch-conservative president-elect of Chile.
• Republican Party (Chile): Kast's political party.
• Immigration Policy: Focus on deporting illegal immigrants and building border barriers.
• Crime and Security: Pledges to clamp down on violent gangs and increase prison capacity.
• Economic Policy: Promises to cut government spending, shrink agencies, and boost intensive agriculture.
• Climate Skepticism: Kast's stance on climate change.
• Augusto Pinochet: Former Chilean dictator, admired by Kast.
• Javier Milei: Current president of Argentina, with whom Kast is compared.
• Donald Trump: Former US president, whose policies and rhetoric Kast emulates.
• Congressional Majority: Kast's Republican Party lacks a majority in both houses of Congress.

Election of Jose Antonio Kast

Chile has elected Jose Antonio Kast, an arch-conservative, as its president, marking the most right-wing leader in 35 years of democracy. Kast secured approximately 58% of the vote, defeating Janette Jara, who led a broad leftist coalition. His campaign centered on promises to address near-record crime rates, deport over 300,000 immigrants, and revitalize the struggling economy.

Jose Antonio Kast: Profile and Ideology

Jose Antonio Kast, 58, is a professional lawyer and a practicing Catholic with nine children. He is the founder of Chile's Republican Party and this is his third presidential bid. Comparisons have been drawn to figures like Donald Trump and Javier Milei, though Kast is described as more reserved and cautious, lacking the overt charisma of some. However, beneath this exterior, he is considered ruthless, with a "with him or against him" approach.

Kast holds strong conservative views, opposing abortion even in cases of rape, and is against contraception pills and same-sex marriage. Notably, his father was a member of Hitler's Nazi party and a soldier in World War II, and his brother served as a minister under former dictator Augusto Pinochet and headed the central bank from 1973 to 1990.

Key Election Pledges and Policies

Kast's platform is built on two primary pillars:

1. Clamping Down on Crime and Enhancing Security

• Deportation of Immigrants: A central pledge is to deport 340,000 illegal migrants. Kast stated, "We want to receive foreigners, but with respect for the law. Those who don't respect the law must go." Many migrants in Chile are from Venezuela.
• Addressing Crime Rates: While Chile's homicide rate (6 per 100,000) is not as high as in some other Latin American countries, it has increased by 3.5 in the past decade. Kidnappings have seen a significant surge, with 868 recorded in 2024, a 76% increase over 2021. This rise in perceived insecurity is seen as a major factor driving voters towards Kast.
• Infrastructure and Law Enforcement: Kast plans to build more maximum-security prisons and restrict communication for gang members within jails. He also intends to expand the powers of the army and police.
• Border Security: Emulating Donald Trump, Kast proposes building a wall along the country's northern border, complete with a 3-meter deep ditch to deter illegal crossings.

2. Economic Revitalization

• Fiscal Austerity: Kast aims to cut $6 billion in government spending over the next 18 months, starting after his inauguration on March 11th.
• Government Reform: He plans to shrink the number of government agencies and cut public spending, potentially dismantling ministries, similar to Javier Milei's approach in Argentina, but without eliminating social benefits.
• Agricultural Development: A focus will be placed on creating intensive agriculture.
• Climate Skepticism: Kast expresses skepticism towards climate change, aligning with a similar stance held by Donald Trump.

International Reactions

Initial international reactions have been largely positive from right-wing leaders:

• Javier Milei (Argentina): Stated on social media that "the left has receded."
• United States (Marco Rubio): Expressed confidence that Chile will advance shared priorities, including strengthened public security, ending illegal immigration, and revitalizing commercial relations.

Challenges Ahead

A significant challenge for President-elect Kast is that his Republican Party does not hold a majority in either house of Congress. This will necessitate negotiation with traditional center-left forces, particularly in the Senate, to pass his legislative agenda, which is expected to be a difficult process.

Conclusion

Jose Antonio Kast's election signifies a decisive shift to the right in Chilean politics, driven by public concerns over crime and immigration, coupled with a desire for economic reform. His policies, heavily influenced by figures like Donald Trump and Javier Milei, aim for a more secure and economically robust Chile, but his ability to implement them will be tested by the political landscape in Congress.