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El Ciudadano

Original article: El pasado nazi y las denuncias en Paine que reabren el debate sobre la familia Kast

The familial history of José Kast is once again causing discomfort for his campaign. With just days to go before the presidential elections, new revelations surrounding his father’s past have emerged, a matter the family has sought to keep out of the public debate.

This family background further conflicts with his narrative of a «humble origin.» His father, Michael Kast Schindele, arrived in Chile in 1950 after World War II and settled in Paine with his wife, Olga Rist. The family’s history has been a subject of public discussion, not only due to its past but also because of the socioeconomic profile they achieved in the country.

Michael Kast’s affiliation with the National Socialist German Workers’ Party is documented in official files. An official membership card dated September 1, 1942, can be found in the Federal Archive of Germany, despite the family’s claims of ignorance regarding this participation. Beyond this controversy, his arrival in Chile was marked by a rapid economic consolidation and sustained upward mobility over time.

In addition to these findings, journalistic investigations and testimonies in Chile have linked Michael Kast—and one of his sons—with incidents related to human rights violations in Paine during the military dictatorship. These accounts deepen the questions surrounding the family’s true ideological convictions during those years.

In a report by Chilevisión, one of the victims of torture in Paine identifies Michael Kast as one of the civilians who participated in the abuses. In the same report, he is referred to as «the former Nazi officer,» highlighting the connection between his past in Germany and his actions in Chile.

The report also features the testimony of Luis Martínez, a survivor who claimed to have known Michael Kast prior and recognized him immediately. He recounted that Kast not only gave orders but also assaulted detainees, labeling them as «communists» and «Marxists,» while uttering phrases like «we need to kill all these Marxists.»

But the case does not end there. In another report by Chilevisión focusing on the so-called «Caravan of Paine,» José Kast’s brother, Christian Kast, is mentioned as an accomplice and alleged collaborator with Carabineros during the dictatorship. One victim claims to have seen him celebrating at the police station alongside officers who committed the abuses.

These details, although known for years, resurface at a critical moment in the campaign and rekindle questions about the role the Kast family played during the dictatorship, as well as the transparency with which the candidate has addressed his own past. In a polarized electoral landscape, the tension between his public discourse and the history surrounding him is set to continue sparking debate.

La entrada Nazi Past and Allegations in Paine Revive Debate Over Kast Family Just Days Before Elections se publicó primero en El Ciudadano.