José Antonio Kast Faces Major Challenges as Chile's New President

José Antonio Kast has officially taken office as Chile's first far-right president since the return to democracy in 1990, promising to address pressing issues such as insecurity, irregular migration, and economic challenges. His administration aims to implement an 'emergency government' approach to tackle these problems, particularly focusing on rising crime rates, as nearly 10% of Chilean households reported violent crime in 2024. Despite a slight decrease in homicide rates, public perception of insecurity remains high, with almost 90% of citizens feeling crime has increased. Additionally, the economy faces mixed indicators, including rising unemployment and growing national debt, which the previous administration has left behind.

Key Details: • Kast's presidency officially began on Wednesday with a sworn oath. • 8.5% of Chilean households reported violent crimes in 2024, a slight increase from 2023. • Homicide rate decreased to 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2025, down from 6.8 in 2022. • Unemployment rose to 8.28% in February 2025, up from 7.8% in March 2022. • Chile's national debt has doubled compared to its assets since 2021.