True to his neoliberal orthodoxy, Chile’s ultra-conservative president, José Antonio Kast, ordered the implementation of a broad plan to reduce public spending that includes a nearly universal 3% spending cut across almost all ministries, though he promised there would be no cuts to social benefits and rights.
At the same time, the Kast administration has launched an ambitious legislative reform aimed at significantly reducing taxes (by 23 to 27%) for various business owners in order, according to the administration, to boost the country’s growth to 4%.
Thus, Kast advocates for a significant reduction in the size of the government, including its spending, while also committing to improving the situation of leading companies, which, according to the administration, will radically improve the Chilean economy – even if this causes, as the president himself said, “pain.”
Furthermore, in line with his campaign promise, Kast announced a bill to strengthen immigration controls, under which he seeks to deport nearly 330,000 undocumented migrants from Chile. For example, he has sought to obtain greater powers to carry out deportations, such as extending the detention period for undocumented migrants (currently five days) and imposing harsher penalties on criminals involved in organized crime.
Anti-government protests
These and other controversial measures have led hundreds of students from the Chilean Student Confederation, the Teachers’ Association, and various workers to protest against the government on June 1, while the president delivered his first address to the nation at the National Congress in the city of Valparaíso, after three months in office.
Protesters took to the streets in Santiago and Valparaíso to demonstrate against Kast’s policies, which they said are aimed at dismantling hard-won social and economic rights, as well as public services such as health care and education, among others.
The protest was suppressed by the national police (Carabineros), who harshly dispersed the students using water cannons, dogs without muzzles, and tear gas.
And while Kast stated that social services would not be affected, protesters claimed that the austerity measures would cut USD 6 billion from the state budget, which would directly impact hospital care.
In this regard, Cecilia Olivares, of the National Confederation of University Professionals in Social Services, told DW: “This mobilization is against the policies aimed at dismantling public health, education, and all social rights.”
In addition, protesters pointed out that Kast seeks to intimidate those who demonstrate in the streets by creating the Registry of Vandals and Incivilities, under which social benefits like free college tuition and the Universal Guaranteed Pension will be revoked for anyone who commits serious offenses. This has been seen as a way to undermine protests and instill fear in young people if they take to the streets to demonstrate.
These measures by Kast, coupled with the repeal of more than 40 environmental decrees and the sharp increase in fuel prices, have caused his popularity to plummet. According to the Plaza Pública Cadem poll, 58% of the population currently disapproves of Kast’s performance after just 12 weeks in office.
Zoe. , June 4, 2026
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