President José Antonio Kast delivers his first State of the Nation address this Monday, June 1, before the National Congress in Valparaíso—a milestone that marks the consolidation of his administration following a start defined by the challenge of advancing his legislative agenda. The ceremony, scheduled for 12:00 p.m. in the Hall of Honor, follows months of governance in which the Executive branch has prioritized its so-called “mega-reform” for national reconstruction, a project the president is seeking to unlock in the Senate despite resistance from various sectors.
In the lead-up to the speech, the political climate was tense. Deputies from the Broad Front (Frente Amplio) arrived at Congress wearing lapel pins featuring the slogan “No to Health Cuts” and an image of a chainsaw crossed out with a red “X,” as reported by BioBioChile. The accessory, which alludes to the emblem of Argentine President Javier Milei, is intended to protest the direction of the Ministry of Finance and potential budget cuts in the healthcare sector.
Prior to the event, Undersecretary of the Interior Máximo Pavez noted on T13 Radio that the occasion would allow for the presentation of both the progress made in the first months of the administration and the critical conditions in which the country was inherited, adding that “the President of the Republic will relaunch his government’s action starting today.”
In a conversation with CNN Chile, Kast defended the need to push the initiative forward regardless of how narrow the margins may be: “Even if it comes down to a single vote, we must keep moving forward because Chile cannot wait,” he stated. The president avoided specifying what concessions he might make in the Upper House, though he acknowledged that a phase of greater dialogue is beginning. On this point, Pavez emphasized that the government keeps its doors open to dialogue with the opposition, provided there are concrete proposals, while warning that if agreements are not reached, the Executive will seek to move forward using available majorities, as reported by CNN Chile. The Executive’s strategy is to recover economic growth by lowering the corporate tax rate from 27% to 23%, a measure justified as a correction for the country’s loss of tax competitiveness.
Regarding tax policy, the head of state flatly ruled out increasing taxes on high earners. “That logic of rich versus poor, of a super-tax on the super-rich, has not helped any country get ahead,” he declared. In the realm of immigration, the Director of the National Migration Service, Frank Sauerbaum, anticipated that the Executive would announce new specific measures, while Pavez highlighted that the administration has already achieved a concrete “change of direction” regarding migration order and legal security, according to CNN Chile.
Monday’s speech also seeks to appease criticism regarding the lack of concrete results in security. Kast harshly questioned the previous administration of Gabriel Boric, accusing it of a systematic failure to uphold the National Public Security Policy. “It is evident that it left no one satisfied and that we have a very high level of insecurity. All indices have risen,” he declared. Regarding the prison system, the head of state confirmed that his administration will move toward a model of “total isolation” and maximum-security measures, promising a comprehensive redesign of the system.
Following the address, government ministers will begin a tour across different parts of the country to explain and reinforce the announcements made, according to El Mostrador. Meanwhile, the political atmosphere remains tense; the same outlet reports that opposition mayors and some pro-government municipal leaders have organized a “National Summit” to analyze the presidential address, contrasting the “90-Day Challenge” campaign promise with the reality of an administration that has had to adjust its expectations in the face of a complex Congress.
The day will conclude with a series of strategic meetings, including an Expanded Political and Security Committee at Cerro Castillo and a private meeting between the President and Republican senators at 8:00 p.m.
