José Antonio Kast was sworn in as Chile’s new president on Wednesday, pledging to address rising violent crime and implement large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants.
His inauguration marks a significant shift in Chile’s politics, as the country joins several Latin American nations moving toward conservative leadership amid growing public concern over organised crime and security.
Speaking shortly before taking the oath of office, Kast said the country would see major changes as he assumes power from outgoing left-wing president Gabriel Boric. The 60-year-old conservative leader won the presidency in December’s runoff election, defeating Jeannette Jara, a communist candidate backed by Boric’s coalition, after his third attempt at the presidency.
Kast is widely considered Chile’s most conservative leader since the military rule of Augusto Pinochet from 1973 to 1990, a period he has previously expressed admiration for.
The ultraconservative Catholic politician and father of nine took the oath before Congress in the coastal city of Valparaíso.
Several regional figures attended the ceremony, including Javier Milei of Argentina, Daniel Noboa of Ecuador, and Venezuelan opposition figure María Corina Machado.
Kast’s presidency also strengthens ties with Donald Trump in the United States, adding another conservative ally in Latin America as Washington seeks to increase its influence in the region.
During his campaign, Kast echoed some of Trump’s policies, promising stricter border controls, the deportation of large numbers of undocumented migrants—many from Venezuela—and tougher law-and-order measures.
Political analysts say his rise represents a strong conservative turn in Chilean politics, the most pronounced since the country returned to democracy in 1990. Meanwhile, Boric, who became Chile’s youngest president when he was elected four years ago after mass protests against inequality in 2019 and 2020, leaves office following unsuccessful attempts to introduce a new constitution reflecting the protesters’ demands.
