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Jun 18, 20261
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Chile's Kast Shifts Focus to Economy as Security Promises Falter in First 100 Days
Chilean President José Antonio Kast shifted his focus from promised security and immigration crackdowns to economic restructuring during his first 100 days, resulting in plummeting approval ratings from 47.5 percent to 31 percent by early June. His security minister resigned over failures to combat organized crime, and immigration restrictions faced legal obstacles.


Quick Facts
Who
José Antonio Kast
What
President Kast shifted focus from security and immigration to economic restructuring
When
March 2024 - Kast took office
Where
Chile
- President Kast shifted focus from security and immigration to economic restructuring
- Security Minister Trinidad Steinert resigned following security sector controversies
- Presidential approval rating declined sharply
- Government implemented public spending cuts
- Security ministry admitted lacking plan to combat organized crime
Chilean President José Antonio Kast entered office in March 2024 with campaign promises of zero tolerance for organized crime and irregular immigration, yet during his first 100 days he shifted his governmental focus toward economic restructuring. The pivot reflected mounting pressures as controversies in the security sector forced the resignation of Security Minister Trinidad Steinert in May, while ambitious public spending cuts generated significant political blowback.
The combination of security failures and economic restructuring led to a sharp decline in presidential approval ratings. Kast's approval dropped from 47.5 percent when he took office in March to 31 percent by early June, according to polling firm Pulso Ciudadano. Political analyst Catalina Calderón of the Women's Equality Center noted that Kast won the election by presenting simplistic messages linking security, migration, and the economy, but has failed to deliver on those promises once in power.
On security, progress has been minimal. The Security Ministry admitted it lacked a comprehensive plan to combat organized crime, contributing to Steinert's departure. Her successor, Martín Arrau, has similarly failed to present a strategic roadmap and acknowledged that the National Security Policy established under previous progressive President Gabriel Boric remains in effect. The government has not submitted to Congress the promised legislation to strengthen security measures, and critical initiatives—including increased penalties for organized crime members and enhanced prosecution of criminal organization membership—remain stalled.
Immigration, another cornerstone of Kast's campaign, has also faced setbacks. He promised to criminalize irregular immigration, construct physical barriers at borders, and execute mass deportations of the approximately 300,000 undocumented immigrants in Chile, many from Venezuela. However, legal and administrative obstacles have prevented implementation. Political analyst Gilberto Aranda explained that the executive lacks the necessary legal tools for expedited deportations, particularly since irregular status is not itself a crime and deportation processes require bilateral cooperation—complicated by Chile's frozen diplomatic relations with Venezuela. Kast announced a "countdown" to deport the undocumented population but later described it as metaphorical. Concrete measures have been limited to construction of a symbolic border trench in the north and participation in a regional accord with four other countries to increase joint efforts against organized crime.
Why This Matters
Kast's failure to deliver on his core campaign promises—security and immigration—within the critical first 100 days signals deepening governance challenges in Chile and suggests that the administration's pivot toward economic restructuring may lack the political capital to succeed. For readers tracking Latin American politics and institutional stability, this represents a cautionary case of populist campaign messaging colliding with institutional constraints and diplomatic complexities, with implications for how security-focused leaders can sustain public trust.
Timeline & Sources
Jun 18, 2024
WireFirst 100 days assessment shows Kast's approval rating declined to 31%; focus shifted to economic restructuring rather than security and immigration promises