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| Felipe Kast | |
|---|---|
| Name | Felipe Kast |
| Birth date | 9 June 1977 |
| Birth place | Santiago, Chile |
| Nationality | Chilean |
| Occupation | Economist, Politician |
| Party | Evópoli |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Harvard University |
| Relatives | Miguel Kast, Jorge Soria |
Felipe Kast is a Chilean economist and politician who has served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and as a presidential candidate. He is a founding figure of the center-right political party Evópoli and has played a prominent role in policy debates on fiscal reform, social policy, and institutional change in Chile. Kast's career spans roles in public administration, international organizations, and legislative leadership, linking domestic politics with networks in higher education and global economic institutions.
Born in Santiago, Chile on 9 June 1977, Kast belongs to a family with roots in Chilean public life linked to the Kast and Soroa lineages; his uncle Miguel Kast was an influential economist, and other relatives have participated in regional politics in Iquique and Antofagasta. He attended secondary school in Santiago before studying economics at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, where he obtained his undergraduate degree and engaged with student organizations and scholarly networks tied to Chilean economic thought. Kast later pursued postgraduate studies at Harvard University, earning a master's degree that connected him to international research centers and to policy communities in Boston and Washington, D.C. In addition to formal degrees, he completed fellowships and short courses associated with institutions such as the Inter-American Development Bank and think tanks in Madrid and Washington.
Kast's professional trajectory includes positions within Chilean public agencies and multilateral institutions. Early in his career he worked on fiscal and public finance issues in the Ministry of Finance (Chile), collaborating with ministers and technical teams during policy cycles that involved tax reform and pension discussions. He later served at the World Bank and engaged with programs administered by the Inter-American Development Bank, focusing on social protection, public expenditure, and macroeconomic stability. In the private and nonprofit sectors he consulted for foundations and research institutes linked to business associations in Santiago and development organizations in Lima and Buenos Aires. Kast has also lectured at universities including the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile and participated in conferences hosted by the Central Bank of Chile and regional policy forums such as meetings of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Kast co-founded Evópoli (Political Evolution), positioning the party within a liberal-conservative and economically liberal field allied with broader coalitions such as Chile Vamos. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies of Chile representing districts in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and served on committees related to finance, social development, and institutional affairs. As a legislator he took part in interparliamentary delegations to the United States Congress, the European Parliament, and bodies convened by the United Nations to discuss governance and rule-of-law issues. Kast campaigned for the presidency in national primaries and presidential elections, competing with figures from National Renewal (Chile), Independent Democratic Union, and other center-right leaders. Within party leadership he helped define electoral strategies for municipal and parliamentary cycles and negotiated coalition pacts with allied parties during both legislative and presidential campaigns.
Kast articulates a policy platform that integrates market-oriented economics, social market principles, and institutional reforms. On fiscal policy he emphasizes tax simplification and incentives for investment, drawing on studies by the IMF and comparisons with tax systems in OECD countries such as Spain and South Korea. In social policy he advocates targeted social spending and reforms to welfare programs similar to models analyzed by the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Kast supports judicial and administrative reforms inspired by proposals debated in the Constitutional Convention (Chile) and has argued for decentralization measures referencing experiences from Germany and Canada. He has expressed positions on public safety that align with law-and-order approaches championed by parties such as National Renewal (Chile) and Independent Democratic Union, while signaling support for civil liberties frameworks promoted in dialogues with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.
Kast's electoral record includes successful bids for the Chamber of Deputies of Chile and participation in presidential primaries and general elections. He first won a legislative seat representing constituencies in the Metropolitan Region of Santiago and subsequently increased his national profile through parliamentary work and media appearances on channels such as Televisión Nacional de Chile and outlets like El Mercurio and La Tercera. In presidential contests he competed in primaries organized by the Chile Vamos coalition and later stood in national ballots where campaigns were marked by debates over constitutional change, economic recovery after the 2019–2020 Chilean protests, and public health responses during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.
Kast comes from a family with a history of public service and private sector engagement; his uncle Miguel Kast served in economic roles during the Pinochet dictatorship era, and other relatives have been active in regional politics in Magallanes and northern Chile. He is married and has children, maintaining residences in Santiago and engaging in civic networks connected to business chambers and university alumni associations, including the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile alumni network and policy forums at Harvard University. Kast participates in international conferences and maintains professional ties with policy institutes in Madrid, Buenos Aires, and Washington, D.C..
Category:Chilean politicians Category:1977 births Category:Living people