Chile’s Kast Approval Falls to 27%, Disapproval 64%

CHILE · POLITICS

Seven months into his term, the conservative president of the world’s largest copper producer has lost more ground in a weekly poll.

Kast approval in Chile fell three points to 27% in the weekly Criteria poll published on Sunday, 11 October 2026. Disapproval of President José Antonio Kast rose four points to 64%, the pollster said.

Chile is the world’s largest copper miner and supplied 68% of US refined copper imports in 2021–2024, US data show. Weaker support at home can slow the reforms Kast needs Congress to pass.

What the Criteria Poll Shows

Criteria is a Chilean research firm that publishes a weekly political survey called Agenda Criteria. This edition polled 802 adults through a certified online panel on Thursday, 8 and Friday, 9 October.

One week earlier, Criteria had Kast at 30% approval and 60% disapproval. The week before that, he stood at 31% and 58%.

The share who did not know fell one point to 9%. In a single week, the gap between disapproval and approval widened from 30 to 37 points.

Criteria also pooled its weekly samples to show the longer trend. Across the government’s first four weeks, 3,208 interviews gave Kast 44% approval, against 29% in the last four weeks.

La Tercera, a leading Santiago daily, reported that Kast’s disapproval had topped former president Gabriel Boric’s for the first time. Boric, a leftist, governed from March 2022 to March 2026.

Last week’s reading is covered in Chile’s Kast Approval Slips to 30%, Disapproval 60%.

Who Is Turning Away From Kast

Kast founded Chile’s conservative Republican Party and took office on 11 March 2026. He won the December 2025 runoff against Jeannette Jara, the candidate of the governing left.

Criteria said the largest relative drops in Kast approval came among first-round voters of Franco Parisi and Evelyn Matthei. Parisi is a populist economist who leads the Party of the People (PDG).

Matthei is a centre-right former mayor of Providencia, a Santiago district, and was the traditional right’s candidate.

Only 18% said the government had exceeded their expectations, while 82% said it had fallen short. Even among Kast’s own first-round voters, more chose “below my expectations” than the alternative.

Spending Cuts and the Bachelet Question

The poll also tested the government’s push to trim the state. A majority of 58% said the state spends its money in a rather inefficient way, down from 66% in February under Boric.

Some 52% backed cutting the number of public employees to reduce spending. Only 19% were open to cutting social programmes, and 8% to trimming cash bonuses or subsidies.

Criteria also asked about Michelle Bachelet, the Socialist former president who governed twice. Some 43% opposed a third presidential bid by her, while 38% supported one.

Asked about the 2029 election, 51% said they were unlikely to vote for her. Another 44% said they were likely to, and 5% were unsure.

What It Means for You

For US investors, the poll lands just before a holiday. Chilean markets close on Monday, 12 October, while US stock exchanges stay open.

Chilean exposure trades in New York through the iShares MSCI Chile ETF and NYSE-listed shares such as SQM and Banco Santander-Chile. Falling Kast approval can weigh on expectations for his reform agenda in Congress.

The US Geological Survey estimates Chile mined about 5.3 million tonnes of copper in 2025, the most of any country.

The numbers do not change policy on their own. Kast’s term runs until March 2030, and the next presidential election is due in 2029.

What Is Not Known

Criteria’s online panel is not a probability sample, so the firm publishes no margin of error. It weights results by region, sex, age and socioeconomic group.

The poll does not say why approval fell this week. It is also unclear which Boric reading La Tercera used for its comparison, or whether other pollsters will show the same drop.

What Comes Next

If Criteria keeps its weekly rhythm, the next reading is due on Sunday, 18 October.

The government also faces a decision on Codelco, the state copper company. Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas told 24 Horas the state would decide early next week whether to join a criminal probe.

A weekly poll does not threaten Kast’s term. It does measure how much political capital he has left for Congress.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Kast’s approval rating now?

Criteria’s poll published on 11 October puts Kast’s approval at 27% and disapproval at 64%. Another 9% said they did not know.

Who is President Kast?

Kast is a conservative who founded Chile’s Republican Party and took office on 11 March 2026. He won the December 2025 runoff against Jeannette Jara.

How was the Criteria poll conducted?

Criteria surveyed 802 adults through an online panel on 8 and 9 October. It is not a probability sample, so no margin of error is published.

Why does Chilean politics matter to Americans?

Chile is the world’s largest copper miner and supplied 68% of US refined copper imports in 2021-2024. Its politics can affect copper supply and US-listed Chilean stocks.

Sources: Criteria, Agenda Criteria 11 October 2026; Criteria, full report (PDF); Criteria, Agenda Criteria 4 October 2026; La Tercera; 24 Horas; US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026: Copper (all accessed 11 October 2026).