José Antonio Kast
José Antonio Kast | |
|---|---|
Kast in 2025 | |
| 38th President of Chile | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| Preceded by | Gabriel Boric |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 11 March 2014 – 11 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | María Angélica Cristi |
| Succeeded by | Constituency abolished |
| Constituency | District 24 |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 11 March 2002 – 11 March 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Pablo Longueira |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Bellolio |
| Constituency | District 30 |
| Member of the Buin City Council | |
| In office 6 December 1996 – 6 December 2000 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Antonio Kast Rist 18 January 1966 Santiago, Chile |
| Party | Independent (2016–2019, since 2026) |
| Other political affiliations | Republican Party (2019–2026) Independent Democratic Union (1996–2016) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 9, including José Antonio Kast Adriasola |
| Parent | Michael Kast (father) |
| Relatives |
|
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (LLB) |
| Occupation | Politician, lawyer |
| Signature | |
| Website | Official website |
José Antonio Kast Rist (Spanish: [xoˈse anˈtonjo ˈkast]; born 18 January 1966) is a Chilean politician and lawyer who has served as the 38th president of Chile since 2026. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2002 to 2018, representing districts in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Kast was a member of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) until 2016, after which he became an independent, later founding the Republican Party (PRCh) in 2019, serving as its leader until 2026.
Kast ran for president three times: in 2017, as an independent close to the far-right, finishing fourth; in 2021, winning the first round but losing the runoff to Gabriel Boric; and in 2025, winning the runoff against Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, achieving the highest vote share since Chile's return to democracy and carrying all regions in the process. He resigned from the Republican Party shortly before taking office on 11 March 2026.
In 2025 and 2026, Kast pursued a more pragmatic policy agenda than in his earlier campaigns, with analysts noting technocratic elements in his platform, including Cabinet appointments of independents drawn from think tanks and the public and private sectors.