José Antonio Kast
José Antonio Kast Rist (born 18 January 1966), also known by his initials JAK, is a Chilean lawyer and politician. Kast ran for president in 2021, winning the first round and losing in the second round run-off to Gabriel Boric.
José Antonio Kast | |
|---|---|
Kast in 2021 | |
| President of the Republican Party | |
| In office 10 June 2019 – 3 January 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Rojo Edwards |
| Secretary General of the Independent Democratic Union | |
| In office 30 March 2012 – 10 May 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Víctor Pérez Varela |
| Succeeded by | Javier Macaya |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies from East Santiago West Santiago (2002–2014) | |
| In office 11 March 2002 – 11 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Pablo Longueira (30th) María Angélica Cristi (24th) |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Bellolio (30th) District abolished (24th) |
| Constituency | 30th district (2002–2014) 24th district (2014–2018) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | José Antonio Kast Rist 18 January 1966 Santiago, Chile |
| Political party | Republican Party (since 2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Independent Democratic Union (before 2016) Independent (2016–2019) |
| Spouse | María Pía Adriasola Barroilhet |
| Children | 9 |
| Relatives |
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| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Signature | |
| Website | Campaign website |
Part of a prominent political family, his father Michael Kast was a lieutenant in the Nazi Germany Army and his brother Miguel Kast worked as the minister of State and president of the Central Bank of Chile during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 2002 to 2018, representing District 24 of Peñalolén and La Reina. Kast was a member of the Independent Democratic Union until 2016, becoming an independent politician until 2019 when he formed the conservative Chilean Republican Party and the think tank Republican Ideas. He previously ran for president as an independent candidate in the 2017 Chilean general election, and has been the leader of Republican Action (Acción Republicana) since 2018.
Kast has been labelled as far right, and supports law-and-order messaging and free-market economic policies, while opposing abortion, same-sex marriage, divorce, birth control, euthanasia, and illegal immigration.