A Shift Toward Hardline Security
President José Antonio Kast delivered his first State of the Nation address to Congress on June 1, signaling an institutional shift toward a leaner state and a hardline stance on security. The president officially announced the creation of a 'Vandal Registry,' which would strip state benefits—including free higher education and guaranteed pensions—from anyone convicted of crimes such as attacking police, hospital staff, public transport, national monuments, or drug trafficking. "No one who burns a bus, no one who destroys public property, deserves to receive free education," the President declared.
Constitutional Concerns
The proposal was met with skepticism by former officials. Former Security Minister Luis Cordero warned in an interview with CNN Chile that the permanent revocation of social benefits could violate the constitution. "Be careful, because a permanent loss of benefits could be unconstitutional," the former minister noted.
'Velvet Authoritarianism'
Political analysis of Kast’s speech also focused on his leadership style. Sociologist Eugenio Tironi, speaking to CNN Chile, described the president’s tone as "velvet authoritarianism." According to the academic, Kast projects a paternalistic image, acting more like a "great parish priest of the nation" than a head of state, blending polished manners with underlying severity. Tironi identified a clear conservative theme: shifting agency from the state to civil society, with the sole exception of security, where the president seeks to strengthen state intervention.
Clashing Over the Numbers
The debate over public security sparked a clash of interpretations regarding the previous administration's legacy. While Kast claimed in his speech that "all crime indices rose" during Gabriel Boric’s government, former minister Cordero dismissed these statements as "rhetorical excesses." Cordero maintained that homicide and violence data in the Macrozona Sur showed a downward trend by the end of Boric’s term, labeling Kast’s assessment as "inaccurate" and lacking factual integrity. "Rhetorical excesses eventually carry consequences," the former minister warned, suggesting that the current administration lacks a solid security plan beyond campaign rhetoric.
Administrative Overhaul
The address also outlined an ambitious administrative reform. Kast confirmed he would submit a bill to merge the Ministry of the Interior with the General Secretariat of Government and announced a commission of experts to redesign the state’s architecture to eliminate administrative duplication, as reported by La Tercera. The president also announced the creation of seven task forces focused on kidnapping and organized crime, along with interventions in 50 "critical neighborhoods" across the country.
Cabinet Turmoil
These announcements come amid cabinet turbulence and a drop in approval ratings, exacerbated by rising fuel costs. Cordero analyzed the departure of former Security Minister Trinidad Steinert as a strategic error: "Her focus was on viewing the Ministry of Security as if it were an extension of the Public Prosecutor's Office." In contrast, Cordero noted that the current minister, Martín Arrau, "understands security as a state policy," marking a fundamental difference in how the executive branch is managing the crisis during its first 90 days in office.
