CHILE · POLITICS

A second Chilean pollster now puts Kast approval at 30 percent. Criteria’s survey, taken on 3 and 4 September, found 58 percent disapproval.

Santiago. Criteria’s poll was taken on 3 and 4 September and published on the 6th.

Two polls, two numbers

President José Antonio Kast’s approval rating fell to 30% in a survey by Criteria, a Santiago-based polling firm. The poll ran on 3 and 4 September 2026.

Another firm, Cadem, published a poll on 3 September showing approval at 34%. Both numbers are far below the majority disapproval that each firm recorded.

What the numbers say

Criteria’s poll puts disapproval at 58%, while Cadem’s disapproval is 61%. That means more than half of Chileans disapprove of Kast’s performance.

The difference between the two polls is 4 percentage points. That gap is normal for different polling firms, but it means the exact approval is not precise.

Who is José Antonio Kast?

José Antonio Kast is a conservative politician who became president of Chile in March 2026. He ran on a platform of tough security, lower taxes, and less government spending.

Before becoming president, Kast was a congressman and ran for president twice. He is known for his hardline views on crime and immigration.

Why approval is falling

Kast’s approval has dropped from around 35% in July to 30% now, according to Criteria. Disapproval has risen from 55% to 58% in the same period.

The drop comes after months of student protests and criticism of his austerity measures. Many Chileans are unhappy with cuts to education and other public services.

Student protests over austerity

On 4 September, thousands of students marched in downtown Santiago against budget cuts. The march was organized by the Coordinating Assembly of High School Students, known as ACES, along with groups called Vencer and Rebelión.

The protesters oppose cuts to education and school meal programs. They also criticize the government’s security policies, which they call repressive.

What is confirmed about the protests

The march on 4 September is confirmed by reports from Resumen English and Radio Universidad de Chile. Earlier marches took place on 29 April and 14 May.

Students said dozens were detained and more than 400 were affected by tear gas. These numbers are not fully confirmed, as the sources do not specify if ‘affected’ means injuries or something else.

Government response not confirmed

They described police action as repression. The government’s formal response is not confirmed from the available material.

What the polls mean for Kast

An approval rating in the low 30s is a warning sign for any president. It means a large majority of Chileans are unhappy with his performance.

Kast’s approval is now at its lowest level since he took office, according to both Criteria and Cadem. The trend is downward, and more protests could push it lower.

How the two polls differ

Criteria’s sample size is not confirmed. Cadem’s sample was 1,002 people, but its fieldwork dates are not confirmed either.

Both polls have a margin of error, but those numbers are not confirmed. So treat the 30% and 34% as close estimates, not exact facts.

Who is behind the polls

Criteria is a Santiago-based polling firm that has tracked Kast since he took office. Cadem is another Chilean firm that publishes a weekly poll called the Plaza Pública survey.

Both are respected in Chile, but they often produce slightly different numbers. That is why the two results are four points apart.

What students say happened

The students described police action as repression. They said the government is not listening to them.

Radio Universidad de Chile reported these claims on 3 September. The government has not yet given a formal response.

What happens next

Student groups have promised more demonstrations in the coming weeks. The government has not announced any change in its austerity or security policies.

New polls will show whether the protests and the disapproval numbers affect Kast’s political standing. For now, the numbers are clear: most Chileans do not approve of his job.

What the polls measure

Approval ratings show the share of people who think a president is doing a good job. Disapproval is the share who think the opposite.

Pollsters ask a sample of voters and then estimate the views of the whole country. Different firms often get slightly different results.

Who runs the surveys

Criteria is a private research firm based in Santiago. It has tracked Kast since he took office.

What the numbers mean

An approval near 30% is low for a president in their first year. It signals broad public discontent.

The gap between the two polls is normal, but it shows the exact figure is uncertain. Treat both as close estimates.

How Kast came to power

Kast won the presidential election in December 2025 and took office in March 2026. His campaign promised to cut crime, lower taxes, and shrink the state.

What austerity means

Austerity means the government is spending less money. Kast’s team has cut budgets for education, health, and other public services.

The goal is to reduce the national debt and boost private investment. But critics say the cuts hurt ordinary Chileans and widen inequality.

Who the protesters are

The main organizers are high school students, grouped under ACES, along with university groups like Vencer and Rebelión. They have led several marches this year.

The students say they are fighting for their future. They argue that cuts to school meals and education funding make it harder for poor families to get ahead.

What the government says

Student groups claim the government ignores them and uses police force to silence dissent. The government has not publicly denied these claims in the available material.

How Chileans view the economy

Chile’s economy has grown slowly under Kast, according to reports from July. Many people worry about jobs and the cost of living.

The polls do not ask directly about the economy, but low approval often tracks with economic discontent. That may explain why disapproval is so high.

What the protests demand

Students want the government to reverse cuts to education and school meals. They also want an end to what they call repression.

The government has not yet announced any policy change. More marches are planned in the coming weeks.

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