THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Chile's hard-right Kast renews crime, migration crackdown pledge Chile's hard-right leader Jose Antonio Kast on Monday announced crackdowns on crime and migration as his ratings suffer less than three months into his term. Kast unveiled new measures including a "vandal" registry and longer detentions for migrants during his first-ever address to Congress as Chilean president. The 60-year-old took office in March as Chile's most right-wing leader since the end of General Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 dictatorship.

Noboa & Kast in Chile: A New Latin America Security Axis VALPARAÍSO, CHILE — Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa was among the first foreign leaders to embrace José Antonio Kast on Wednesday as Chile’s new president was sworn in at the National Congress in the coastal city of Valparaíso—a ceremony that marked not only the most pronounced rightward shift in Chilean politics since the return of democracy in 1990, but the public consolidation of a new regional security axis that is quietly reshaping the fight against transnational criminal organizations across South America. Right-wing leader Kast was sworn in on Wednesday as Chile’s new president, marking the Latin American nation’s most pronounced shift to the right since the return of democracy in 1990, taking office on a promise to tackle surging rates of violent crime and carry out mass deportations of “irregular migrants.” Among the high-ranking officials attending the ceremony were Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Spain’s King Felipe VI. For Noboa and Kast, Wednesday’s ceremony was the formal public expression of a partnership that had been developin…

Chile begins its most conservative era with Kast's 'emergency ... Antonia Laborde Santiago de Chile - Mar 11, 2026 - 18:20 CET Share on Whatsapp Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Desplegar Redes Sociales Prefer EL PAÍS on Google Compartir: Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Bluesky Linkedin Copy link José Antonio Kast assumed the presidency of Chile on Wednesday afternoon, becoming the most right-wing head of state since the return to democracy in 1990. At the National Congress in Valparaíso, the 60-year-old lawyer received the presidential sash with an embroidered coat of arms. No leader since the return of democracy had incorporated this institutional symbol; the last to do so was dictator Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990). Instead of making a formal promise, Kast swore to faithfully carry out his duties — an act with a religious undertone, since it implies accepting the role before God. To signal that his team will begin working immediately on the promised emergency government, the new president has scheduled on‑site activities for Wednesday afternoon and will move into La Moneda Palace on Wednesday night. Gabriel Boric welcomed Kast — his ideological opposite — without a tie and to applaus…