José Antonio Kast Turns His Back on ‘Chiloé Region’ and Criticizes Indigenous Rights Under Lafkenche Law

Original article: Kast da la espalda a “Chiloé Región” y nuevamente ataca derechos indígenas de Ley Lafkenche

José Antonio Kast Turns His Back on Lafkenche Law and Lowers Priority for ‘Chiloé Region’

During his presidential campaign, candidate José Antonio Kast visited the Los Lagos Region, starting in Ancud on November 28, 2025. He outlined his three priorities for the area should he win: public safety, economic growth, and addressing the health crisis. He described the situation of key projects, calling the state of Ancud and Quellón hospitals, as well as the Castro bypass, an «emergency,» and promised to pursue measures that yield «concrete results.»

A particularly controversial point in his speech was his strong criticism of the Lafkenche Law (Law 20.249). The candidate explicitly stated that the law «facilitates abuses,» and described it, according to reports, as a «political blackmail tool» that hinders the salmon farming industry.

Kast warned of a potential negative impact on salmon farming, a vital industry for the region, proposing to veto pending requests for Marine Coastal Spaces of Indigenous Peoples (ECMPO) and to restore decision-making power to regional commissions.

In response to the legitimate demand for Chiloé to become a new region, Kast downplayed its urgency. He clearly stated: «the proposal to turn Chiloé into a region is not a priority because we have other urgent matters.» He argued that focus should be on solving immediate issues in health, education, and connectivity, exemplifying: «If I ask the residents of Chiloé whether they prefer to become a region or have the problem with Ancud hospital solved, it’s more likely that the latter will take priority.» Although he did not completely close the door on the discussion, his stance was to postpone the regional discussion.

See Chiloé News publication for Kast’s statements

These statements sharply contrast with official evidence regarding the operation of the Lafkenche Law. According to a publication from the platform «Espacios Costeros«, predating Kast’s remarks, Sernapesca does not have any formal complaints regarding abusive uses or malfunctions of the law. The platform stated emphatically: “Confirmed: not a single documented case of violations in ECMPO.” This lack of factual support for the criticisms raises questions about the real motivations behind the proposal to modify or eliminate the regulation.

The version from «Espacios Costeros» provides essential context. They explain that the Lafkenche Law is designed to «protect marine coastal spaces for indigenous peoples, promoting their ancestral and sustainable use, in a shared community manner.» In response to the criticisms, they emphasize that there is no documented case justifying accusations of abuse. This lack of concrete evidence leads the platform to openly question whether opposition to the law is driven by «salmon interests» or «business pressure,» demanding transparency from candidates.

Finally, «Espacios Costeros» directly confronts politicians, demanding a public explanation: «Why modify or eliminate a law without evidence of failures?» This question looms over Kast’s statements, who, despite admitting he voted for the law in the past, now promotes severely restricting it without presenting any cases of malfunction that support his position, sparking a debate that goes beyond the campaign and delves into the contentious relationship between economic development and ancestral rights.