Presidential candidate José Antonio Kast ended his campaign in Concepción with a speech full of criticisms against Gabriel Boric's government, his rival Jeannette Jara, and former minister Mario Marcel. In front of supporters at Plaza de la Independencia, he accused them of destroying the national budget and disconnecting from Chilean reality. The event marks the close of activities before the December 14 runoff.
On Saturday, José Antonio Kast, candidate of the Partido Republicano, led a campaign closing event at Plaza de la Independencia in Concepción, protected by bulletproof glass. The event, one of the last before the December 14 election, gathered supporters and served to consolidate his opposition support through direct attacks on the officialdom.
Kast began by thanking the support from Chile Vamos, Amarillos, Demócratas, and the Partido Nacional Libertario. He highlighted Evelyn Matthei's endorsement, stating: “we may have had differences, but she was there on the first day, because she went all in”. He also recognized figures like deputy Johannes Kaiser, Ximena Rincón, and Andrés Jouannet, emphasizing a “common cause”.
The tone quickly shifted to criticisms. On President Gabriel Boric, he questioned his perception of reality: “The President tells us that Chile is not falling apart. What part of Chile has he visited? Because if you go to any clinic, any CESFAM, any COSAM, you realize the suffering of people. There are no supplies, there are expired drugs”. He added that Boric can “walk calmly” due to protection, but not the average Chilean.
Jeannette Jara was a recurring target: “Jara is Boric and Boric is Jara, and that's more than clear”. Kast criticized her tenure as Labor Minister, pointing to “a million unemployed and more than two million in informality”, and accused her of promising jobs as if she “had just arrived in Chile”.
Mario Marcel faced harsh accusations: “The former Finance Minister ran away so they wouldn't say he was guilty and returned after the deadline to challenge him. It's a shame... he destroyed the fiscal coffers of this country”. Kast stated that the government “destroyed the nation's budget” without economic crisis or pandemic, failing on budgets for three years.
Finally, he reiterated his migration proposal: irregular immigrants must leave Chile in 95 days, a “common sense” measure. He messaged fugitives: “if they turn themselves in, they have a chance”.
The speech reflects Kast's strategy to broaden his opposition base in the Biobío, a key region, amid polls positioning him favorably for the runoff.