Valparaíso, Chile. José Antonio Kast was sworn in as Chile’s president on Wednesday, marking the country’s most pronounced shift to the right in decades amid voter concerns about insecurity. He succeeds left-wing President Gabriel Boric as worries about crime and the economy grow.
Inauguration and priorities
Kast, who lost the 2021 election to Boric, took office promising to clamp down on migration and lawlessness while boosting growth through deregulation, spending cuts and market-friendly policy.
The transfer of power ceremony took place in the coastal city of Valparaíso, home to Chile’s Congress. Attendees included Argentina’s Javier Milei, Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa, Paraguay’s Santiago Peña and Spain’s King Felipe VI.
Security incident and response
A shooting earlier in the day in the southern city of Puerto Varas left a police officer brain dead and prompted Kast to dispatch his newly sworn-in security minister, Trinidad Steinert, to the city immediately after the ceremony.
“There’s going to be a before and an after. Whoever attacks a police officer attacks Chile,” Kast told reporters. “We’re going to find them, judge them and apply the full force of the law.”
Economic backdrop and foreign policy tensions
Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, elected Kast during an economic upswing, but he takes office as the Iran war rattles global markets.
The transition has also been clouded by heightened tensions between the incoming and outgoing administrations over U.S. pressure regarding a proposed Chinese undersea cable project.
“Kast will have to manage an increasingly challenging international geopolitical landscape,” said Guillermo Holzmann, a political analyst at the University of Valparaíso, citing economic risks from the Iran war, Washington’s regional security strategy and China’s growing influence in Latin America. “These decisions will require sophisticated diplomacy and strategic medium- and long-term vision.”
Legislative challenges
Kast will face a divided Congress that could hamper his agenda. “Speedy and effective delivery on his three priority issues — security, immigration and the economy — will be essential,” said Nicholas Watson, managing director of consultancy Teneo, adding that a barrage of legislative initiatives is expected over the next three months.
What do you think will be the biggest challenge for Kast in delivering on security, immigration and economic priorities?
