Gabriel Boric

Rule Changes

Left office March 11, 2026

Chile produces roughly a quarter of the world's copper and holds the largest lithium reserves on Earth. On March 11, 2026, José Antonio Kast was sworn in as president with a mandate to reverse his predecessor's state-led approach to these resources—scrapping plans for a national lithium company and opening the sector to broader private investment. The shift puts an estimated $105 billion in stalled mining projects back in play.

Updated 5 days ago

Rule Changes

Term-limited; oversees transition to the next government

Chile's presidential race ended decisively on December 14 when José Antonio Kast defeated Jeannette Jara by about 20 points in the runoff. The country chose a mood: fear of crime and anger over disorder. Now, two months before his March 11 inauguration, Kast has unveiled a 24-minister cabinet dominated by technocrats and independents rather than party loyalists—a signal that he intends to govern pragmatically despite his hardline campaign rhetoric.

Updated Feb 6

Force in Play

Leading emergency response

Less than a year after wildfires killed 138 people near Viña del Mar, Chile is burning again. Since January 16, fires across the Biobío and Ñuble regions have killed at least 21 people, destroyed over 2,359 homes, and forced more than 50,000 to evacuate. The blazes consumed 45,700 hectares (176 square miles)—already far surpassing the area burned in the 2024 Viña del Mar disaster. President Gabriel Boric declared a state of catastrophe, imposed a nighttime curfew, and on January 23 decreed two days of national mourning.

Updated Jan 29