A Plaza Pública Cadem survey reveals that Chileans see José Antonio Kast and Donald Trump as the most relevant figures of 2025, tied at 33%, followed by Gabriel Boric with 20%. Kast's electoral victory tops the year's key news events with 37% mentions, while optimism about the country's direction reaches its highest level in years.
The first measurement of the year from the Plaza Pública Cadem survey provides insight into how Chileans assessed the events and figures of 2025. José Antonio Kast, president-elect, and Donald Trump, U.S. president, lead with 33% each as the most relevant figures, followed by current president Gabriel Boric with 20%. Trailing are the late actor Héctor Noguera with 17%, Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele with 16%, and both presidential candidate Jeannette Jara and children's program 31 Minutos with 14%.
Among 2025's most important events, Kast's victory in the presidential elections garners 37% mentions, just ahead of the medical licenses case linked to Comptroller Dorothy Pérez at 36%. Other notable events include crime and organized crime (21%), the approval of the Pension Reform (17%), and the removal of Supreme Court ministers Ángela Vivanco, Sergio Muñoz, and Diego Simpertigue.
The survey also indicates a rise in optimism: 49% of respondents believe Chile is on the right path, the highest since March 2022, and 64% have positive expectations for the future, the highest since March 2018. Regarding Boric's management, 36% approve and 57% disapprove in the last week of December.
In a parallel Cadem poll, 60% support Kast's proposal to gradually eliminate property taxes on first homes over four years, with 86% backing from those identifying with the right. 52% believe the benefit should apply to all first-home owners, and 38% only to those over 65. Additionally, 55% expect Chile to fare well under Kast's government.
