Kast calls on the opposition not to fall "into blackmail" over withdrawal of support for Bachelet's UN nomination.

After visiting the construction of the Chacao Bridge in the Los Lagos Region, President José Antonio Kast addressed the withdrawal of government support for Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for the United Nations Secretary-General, which had been presented by Gabriel Boric and backed by Mexico and Brazil. Specifically, the President reinforced what Foreign Minister Francisco Pérez Mackenna stated, that the decision was due to a potential dispersion of candidates in the region. As expected, the opposition quickly raised alarms and criticized the President.

In response, Kast stated that there could be no "blackmail" and that people must be put "first. " "I personally spoke with former President Bachelet on Friday, where I informed her of our decision, and it is a conviction that due to the dispersion of candidacies from people on the continent, it would be very complex to have enough votes for the president to be elected at the UN," he said. "Given that almost certain reality of a competition that would develop over months and that would also have a significant cost for our nation, and seeing the current situation, I proposed that we would not support her candidacy," he continued.

"One has to make decisions at some point; I had indicated that I would express my opinion after March 11, and I also told the president that I had to define what Chile's position would be. Given the current situation, where embassies were already working on that candidacy, deploying ambassadors, and incurring expenses for that candidacy, and anticipating that the outcome would not be as desired, I made the decision not to continue down that path, and I also communicated this to President Boric at the time," he stated. That said, and given that Bachelet decided to continue with her candidacy despite the government's decision, he added that if she chose to end that path, "I would request a new conversation and, based on that, evaluate what the alternatives are moving forward.

" "I would do the same with President Frei, with President Gabriel Boric, and it is something I mentioned before the elections, that I would have liked President Gabriel Boric to have consulted with those of us who were presidential candidates, because one of the candidates on the ballot would have the responsibility of directing the nation's destiny," he added. When asked about the relationship with the opposition in this new scenario, he declared: "We remain on the same line, Chile first, and we hope they also put Chile first. " "Today there are projects that are very necessary, that require a different urgency perhaps than others because we have faced this situation with fuel, and what we are proposing now specifically are palliative measures for the rise in fuel prices, and I am sure we will have their support on that.

In other matters, such as security, I hope they also put Chile first," he affirmed. "These are issues that interest us all, and each one will have to be responsible for their votes. What we cannot do is say 'if I don't do this, the consequence will be that,'" he added.

"What we cannot do is be subject to a kind of blackmail, that if one does not do this, the result will be this other thing. I ask for responsibility, seriousness, and to put people first," concluded the President.