At Exponor 2026, President José Antonio Kast joked about a Socialist Party brochure depicting him as Pinocchio with the phrase “Kast miente”. PS president Paulina Vodanovic acknowledged the mistake and apologized.
The brochure circulated on social media over the weekend, showing the president with an elongated nose and the message “El PS te defiende de la megarreforma. Kast miente”. Kast commented at the event: “Mírenme de perfil, yo me encuentro bastante armónico”, drawing laughter from attendees. Vodanovic stated she did not authorize the personal image and respects the country’s institutions. The PS leadership had approved a campaign against the megarreforma, but the direct allusion sparked internal criticism and heated party chats. The executive board held an emergency meeting on Sunday. Vodanovic contacted Interior Minister Claudio Alvarado to offer apologies and indicated that the PS communications team will undergo changes.
