From the desks at DubaiBusTiming, we bring you an international update on Chile’s dramatic political shift. Just three weeks into his term, President Jose Antonio Kast has wasted no time in steering the nation sharply to the right, fundamentally altering the course set by his predecessor, Gabriel Boric. Kast’s administration is swiftly implementing policies aimed at slashing government spending and cracking down on immigration, marking a significant ideological about-turn for the South American nation.
Kast, a 60-year-old lawyer, entered office with a clear mandate to make “radical policy choices” to revitalize the economy and bring illegal immigration under control. The immediate impact of this promise was felt this week when Kast’s team canceled leftist Boric’s plans to grant legal status to tens of thousands of migrants. Boric had prepared a decree to legalize approximately 182,000 individuals who had applied for residency. However, in line with Kast’s campaign pledges, Migration Service director Frank Sauerbaum confirmed, “we are not going to proceed with a massive granting of residency papers as proposed by the Boric government.”
The immigration clampdown extends beyond policy reversals. President Kast has already ordered the commencement of construction for new barriers along the Peruvian border, with plans to tighten security on the Bolivian border as well. He attributes a recent rise in murders, kidnappings, and extortion to undocumented immigrants, providing a key rationale for these stringent border control measures.
Economically, the new administration is embracing austerity. Kast has moved to axe more than 40 environmental decrees, which he views as impediments to economic activity, and has implemented a 3% cut across various ministry budgets. One of the most controversial economic adjustments includes scaling back government schemes designed to cushion the impact of fluctuating fuel prices. This move comes at a challenging time, as petrol prices have soared by 30% and diesel by 60% in a country heavily reliant on imports.
These “tough measures,” as Kast himself concedes, are justified by the government citing a budget deficit of 3.6% and public debt exceeding 40% of GDP. “But we cannot buy popularity with money we do not have,” Kast stated, emphasizing the financial imperative behind his decisions.
Kast’s election brought the most right-wing president to power in Chile since Augusto Pinochet’s military dictatorship (1973-1990). While political scientist Rodrigo Espinoza notes that “reversing certain decisions made by the previous administration was part” of Kast’s campaign, the swiftness and scope of the changes have surprised some. Rodrigo Araya, a 27-year-old chef from Santiago, expressed concern: “They’re undoing everything the left has achieved, and I don’t think they understand how ordinary people feel.” Gonzalo Mueller, director of the Centre for Public Policy, suggests the aim is to rectify controversial decisions rather than ‘dismantle a legacy.’
The environmental rollbacks have sparked particular alarm. One of the axed decrees focused on protecting the Humboldt penguin, an endemic Chilean species classified as ‘vulnerable.’ The measure proposed designating the creature a ‘natural monument’ and extending its protection across Chile. Chilean scientist Alejandro Simeone, a specialist in the species, warned that the cancellation “sends the wrong signal,” especially given the bird’s 63% population slump between 2022 and 2025 due to avian flu, El Nino, and industrial fishing. Cristina Dorador, a conservation specialist, argues that austerity and conservation are not mutually exclusive, emphasizing, “It is a mistake to frame the issue as a stark dichotomy: protecting nature does not mean giving up all economic activity.”
Despite his rapid policy implementation, Kast’s approval rating has experienced a significant dip, falling from 57% to 43% since his inauguration on March 11, according to a recent poll by the Cadem institute. This decline is partly attributed to the scaling back of environmental protections.
President Kast’s first three weeks have unmistakably set Chile on a new, conservative path. While aimed at stabilizing the economy and addressing immigration concerns, these swift, decree-based changes have generated both support and significant opposition, setting the stage for a dynamic and potentially contentious presidency. The coming months will reveal the long-term impact of this dramatic political pivot.