|  ElCiudadano.cl |  Noticias

El Ciudadano

Original article: El “orden” de Kast pierde credibilidad: quienes creen que la seguridad empeorará saltan de 19% a 41%

The promise of «order» that José Kast brought to La Moneda is facing an uncomfortable reality: fewer individuals believe the Government will improve safety, while more anticipate a decline in security conditions. According to the Criteria Agenda survey published on May 24, the proportion of people expecting an increase in crime and insecurity surged from 19% in March to 41% in May.

The decline is even sharper when looking at the opposite side of the same question. In March, 52% believed that security would improve in the near future. Two months later, that expectation plummeted to just 28%. Simply put, the public continues to prioritize security as their main concern, but their confidence in Kast’s ability to address it is rapidly waning.

This isn’t a secondary issue. Security under Kast’s administration is where the right promised to demonstrate its greatest strength, efficiency, and leadership. Thus, when pessimism grows precisely in this area, the impact is not only statistical; it strikes at the political identity of the Executive.

Criteria Survey: Security Under Kast’s Government Shifts From Optimism to Deterioration

The survey indicates that security is becoming increasingly recognized as the top public priority. In March, 21% mentioned it as their primary concern; by May, that figure rose to 30%, surpassing public health, employment, economic recovery, and migration.

This data suggests a clear message: people are demanding answers regarding crime, but they are no longer placing the same trust in a Government that made hardline policies one of its main campaign promises.

Back in March, at the beginning of the administration, public expectations were in Kast’s favor: over half of those surveyed believed that security would improve. Now, the situation has shifted dramatically; those who think conditions will deteriorate have increased to 41%, while those who still hope for improvement have dwindled to 28%.

In other words, the Government faces not only a high demand for security but also something politically more sensitive: a citizenry beginning to foresee that the issue may worsen under its leadership.

The same trend is evident in the public’s assessment of La Moneda’s response to the so-called «state of emergency» in the country. Criteria shows that 41% view the Government’s course as incorrect, compared to 35% who find it appropriate. Another 24% expressed uncertainty about the direction taken.

The gap isn’t overwhelmingly large, but it sufficiently indicates that the official narrative of control and leadership isn’t easily instilled. The Government can reiterate its stance on handling an emergency, but the key question remains whether the public believes it is managing this situation effectively. As it stands, negative evaluations outweigh positive ones.

Cabinet Reshuffle: Approving Changes Doesn’t Equate to Endorsing Performance

The report also contains a piece of data that must be interpreted carefully. A striking 84% of respondents reported being aware of the recent cabinet reshuffle, and among those who were informed, 72% expressed agreement or strong agreement with the ministerial adjustment.

At first glance, La Moneda might attempt to spin this result as a favorable indication. However, endorsing a change in ministers does not automatically translate to endorsing the performance that necessitated that change.

In other words, when someone acknowledges problems in security or spokesperson roles, they may appreciate the President’s decision to replace the individuals responsible. This does not erase the Executive’s accountability for initially putting those teams in place, nor does it remedy the diminishing expectations surrounding security.

In fact, this data can be interpreted as confirmation that the Government needed to swiftly correct sensitive areas. The departure of Trinidad Steinert from the Ministry of Security occurred amid criticism regarding a lack of a clear plan in this area, especially as the Administration’s main political promise begins losing credibility among the public.

Overall, Kast continues to gather negative ratings. His approval stands at 37%, while his disapproval rate reaches 49%. Although this latter figure is a drop from the previous survey when it peaked at 53%, it still significantly exceeds public support.

The Mega Economic Tax Reform Fails to Clear Suspicions

Another piece of data hitting the Government comes from its assessment of the so-called Reconstruction and Economic and Social Development Law, better known as Kast’s mega economic tax reform.

The project garners 36% support, while 31% are opposed and a significant 33% have not yet formed a position on it. However, more revealing than the formal endorsement is the perception regarding its primary beneficiaries.

According to Criteria, 45% believe that the initiative will mainly benefit large companies and high-income individuals, while only 35% think it is primarily aimed at creating jobs for the general populace.

This contrast is significant. The Government seeks to portray its mega reform as a tool for economic recovery and national reconstruction. However, the broader group of respondents views it as a policy skewed towards the privileged strata.

In other words: although the Executive claims the reform aims to benefit all through investment and job creation, more people believe that its primary effects will serve those who already hold greater resources. This perception becomes especially uncomfortable as the Treasury pushes for cuts in sensitive social areas, such as public health and programs for the elderly.

The promise of order is beginning to wane in terms of security, while the pledge of reconstruction carries the suspicion of being designed primarily for the elite.

Economic Pessimism: The Promise of Wellbeing Also Fails to Take Off

Criteria also records a downturn in economic expectations. In March, 41% estimated that the country’s economic situation would improve in the coming months, while 23% believed it would worsen. By May, that relationship had inverted: only 29% expect improvement and 39% think the economy will decline.

A similar trend appears in households. Those believing their household economic situation will worsen rose from 18% to 31%, while those who expect an improvement fell from 38% to 28%.

In terms of employment, the signal is also negative: 37% believe it will be harder to find or improve a job, compared to 24% who project a more favorable situation.

These results do not in themselves signify the failure of an administration still in its early days. However, they do indicate that the Government has yet to transform its promises of order, growth, and efficiency into a positive expectation for people’s daily lives.

Kast’s Dilemma: Promising Order While Expectations of Deterioration Rise

The Criteria survey does not deliver a definitive judgment on the future of the Government, but it clearly delineates where its major weaknesses lie.

The first is in security under Kast’s administration: the area where the President aimed to present himself as the strongest is today where public trust is deteriorating the fastest. Between March and May, those believing the situation will worsen more than doubled in proportion, rising from 19% to 41%.

The second vulnerability appears in the mega economic tax reform: while La Moneda attempts to defend it as a pathway to development and employment, 45% associate it primarily with benefits for large enterprises and high-income individuals.

For a government that came in promising order on the streets and growth for the nation, these data points are troubling. Simply changing ministers, reiterating an emergency narrative, or presenting tax breaks as reconstruction is not enough. When the public begins to believe that insecurity will increase and that economic reforms will primarily benefit the wealthy, the official narrative starts to lose its foundation.

The banner of «order» does not fall due to opposition slogans. It deflates when the public itself stops believing that it can truly wave in reality.

Check the details of the Criteria survey from May 24:

Agenda Criteria 24 Mayo 2026 by lahuanche

La entrada Kast’s Promise of Order Losing Credibility: Concerns Over Security Soar from 19% to 41% se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.