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Original article: José Antonio Kast llega a su primera Cuenta Pública con un 31% de aprobación y la confianza al mandatario apenas con el 23,2%, según Pulso Ciudadano

Kast’s Approval Stands at 31% Ahead of First Public Account, 65.7% Believe Government Lacks Security Plan, Reveals Pulso Ciudadano

As he approaches his first Public Account, President José Antonio Kast has a 31% approval rating, according to the Pulso Ciudadano survey released on Sunday, May 31, 2026, by Radio Cooperativa.

The poll, conducted between May 27 and 29 with a national sample of 1,082 respondents, showed little variation from the previous survey, where the President had a 31.2% approval rating. Meanwhile, the disapproval rate for the President stands at 53.3%, while that of his cabinet reaches 59.2%, as reported by CNN Chile.

The Moment of Kast’s First Public Account Has Arrived: Strong Distrust Among Citizens, According to Datavoz Survey

Trust in the President Reaches a Meager 23.2%

The same survey released by CNN Chile revealed that public trust in President Kast has seen little change, with only 23.2% expressing «much or total trust,» while 25.1% indicated «moderate trust» and a stark 51.7% displayed «little or no trust.»

CNN Chile further detailed that distrust in the Executive is particularly pronounced among individuals aged 31 to 40 at 61.2% and among women at 55.4%.

Radio Cooperativa added that when asked about the best ministers, Housing Minister Iván Poduje leads with 23.5%, «significantly surpassing the others» in the cabinet.

Jorge Quiroz is the ‘Worst Minister’ in the Cabinet

Conversely, Radio Cooperativa reported that Finance Minister Jorge Quiroz ranks as the ‘worst minister’ with a 29.6% disapproval rating. He is followed by Science Minister Ximena Lincolao (20.1%), Sports Minister Natalia Duco (17.7%), Energy Minister Ximena Rincón (15.8%), and Economy and Mining Minister Daniel Mas (15.1%). These figures reflect widespread discontent with the performance of the Finance Minister amidst discussions about a mega tax reform and budget cuts.

One of the most striking statistics from the Pulso Ciudadano survey, referenced by both outlets, indicated that when asked whether President Kast has a concrete security plan, a notable 65.7% of respondents said no, while only 19.5% believe he does—meaning that barely two out of ten citizens hold such a belief—and 14.7% expressed uncertainty.

CNN Chile clarified that this opinion is shared by opposers (93.7%), independents (69.5%), and even supporters of the political right (42.7%).

According to respondents, the main problem facing the country is crime, with a reported level rising to 47.9%, according to Radio Cooperativa.

CNN Chile added that this is the highest level in 2026 regarding public perception, marking a 6.8 percentage point increase compared to the initial survey in March, which showed a 41.1% concern. Following crime are inflation and rising prices (25.7%), health (21.8%), unemployment (21.5%), and the economy overall (21.4%).

Negative Evaluation of Government Management Exceeds 48% Across All Areas

The Pulso Ciudadano survey also revealed that respondents rated the government’s handling of the country’s major issues negatively, as detailed by Radio Cooperativa: drug trafficking (57.2%), crime (54.6%), economy (51.9%), immigration (49.6%), and expulsion of migrants (48.3%).

CNN Chile added that the appointment of Martín Arrau to the Public Security portfolio, following the departure of Trinidad Steinert, has been contentious given the lack of clarity regarding the government’s security strategy for the country, a concern that Steinert also failed to address.

La entrada José Antonio Kast Faces First Public Account with 31% Approval, Yet Only 23.2% Trust in Leadership, Says Pulso Ciudadano se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.