José Antonio Kast Inaugurated as Chile’s President, Signaling a Rightward Turn

Kast sworn in, marking Chile’s sharpest rightward shift since 1990. In a ceremony at the National Congress in Valparaíso, far‑right leader José Antonio Kast took the presidential oath on Wednesday, becoming the country’s president after a landslide victory in the 2025 elections [1].

Heads of state and royalty attended, while key leaders were absent. Guests included Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa, Spain’s King Felipe VI and Nobel laureate María Corina Machado; Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele did not attend, and the U.S. sent a modest delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau [1].

Kast’s new cabinet was sworn in alongside his inauguration. Senate President Paulina Núñez placed the presidential sash on Kast; José Francisco Pérez Mackenna became chancellor, María Trinidad Steinert took the security portfolio, and Fernando Rabat assumed the justice and human‑rights ministry [1].

Outgoing President Gabriel Boric left with historically low approval. A Cadem poll released this week found 53 % of respondents rated Boric’s government as the worst since Chile’s return to democracy in 1990 [1].

Kast’s platform echoes U.S. hard‑line policies on crime and immigration. The Trump‑inspired veteran defeated communist candidate Jeannette Jara in December, promising tougher crime measures, mass deportations, border fences, and praising the U.S. operation that captured former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro [1][4].

Analysts stress the importance of decisive action in the first 100 days. Verisk Maplecroft analyst Mariano Machado warned that clear direction early on will determine whether the political establishment aligns with or hinders the new administration’s priorities [1].