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Original article: “Mentiroso y represor”: La imagen que da vuelta al mundo y que devela la faceta de José Antonio Kast

Kast Faces Growing Credibility Crisis Amid Budget Cuts, Tax Reforms Favoring the Wealthy, and Police Violence

Criticism of President José Antonio Kast has intensified during his recent public appearances, focusing on the failure to deliver on key campaign promises. The main concerns revolve around three key areas: his narrative on fiscal resource management, the immigration agenda, and the dismissal of previous commitments now dubbed as «metaphors.»

«Kast arrived at that place with nothing but lies… they’re worthless,» remarked a woman named Blanca during a live report on ChileVisión, a video which was widely circulated by Piensa Prensa. Her words capture a discontent that is no longer anecdotal or limited to an organized opposition.

People shouted “liar” at President José Antonio Kast during his first visit to the Coquimbo Region, according to a video shared by @RobertoMerken on X. This is not an isolated incident: when a president begins to be met with accusations of lying at public events, the issue transcends politics and enters the realm of credibility.

The loss of trust has specific causes. Those who followed Kast’s campaign recall that he stated he would not cut social rights, yet, critics claim that he has made “a mutilation.” Furthermore, he never demonstrated during the electoral campaign what they label as “a mega tax reform favoring the super-rich.”

During the #PublicAccount2026, The Clinic featured the «Liar» shout when a person yelled this at the end of President Kast’s speech at the National Congress.

An Image That Has Stirred Up Controversy

The Spanish newspaper El País published a front-page image that has circulated worldwide: a bloodied girl amid police repression against students. “The student protest against budget cuts and the mega economic reform of José Antonio Kast’s government resulted in an image that has stirred up a storm: a young girl with a bloodied face held by two police officers,” reported the outlet.

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The «Donroe» Doctrine

The platform Spanishrevolution also shared the image of the repression in Chile against students, framing it within a broader geopolitical context under the title: The «Donroe» Doctrine, stating: «Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, and Ecuador are already paying the price for opting for extreme right governments subordinated to the interests of Washington. They promised prosperity, freedom, and growth, but the reality has been more austerity, more inequality, and less sovereignty.»

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https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZKamjEkeh8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZKamjEkeh8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Another widely circulated image showed the arrest of an elderly man in La Serena, who was peacefully protesting against President Kast’s visit.

See video coverage by Javier Pineda – El Ciudadano

Trust is the main capital of any government. When it is lost, speeches cease to be persuasive, and reality begins to surface from the streets. With accusations of “liar” in the Congress, public complaints in regions, and international headlines showcasing the social cost of his policies, President Kast is facing a crisis that transcends mere image; it’s a matter of legitimacy.

La entrada «Liar and Repressor»: The Image of José Antonio Kast That Has Captivated the World se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.