In our first episode of 2026, we take a look at Chile under president-elect José Antonio Kast who is due to be sworn into office in March 2026, marking a significant swing to the Right in the Andean nation. 

Joining us on The LatinNews Podcast this week is Lucia Dammert, Professor of International Relations at the Universidad de Santiago de Chile. 

We discuss how Kast won the elections so convincingly and what were the failures of President Gabriel Boric. Will Kast open lithium to private investors, what are his solutions to rising crime in Chile and will he carry out mass expulsions of immigrants, as promised during the campaign trail. 

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