This November, the Republic of Chile will hold a presidential election, with the new head of state officially taking office in March 2026. One of the candidates is Johannes Kaiser, founder and chairman of Chile’s National Libertarian Party. How does he see his country, and where would he like to take it if he succeeds in the election?
What will be your priorities going into the election?
The priority for Chileans today is to be able to live in a safe country, defeat crime, drug trafficking and corruption. We want to strengthen the institutions and remove the thousands of political operators that the extreme left has introduced into the public administration, which makes the state apparatus more expensive. We also want to reduce the size of the state administration, which has ceased to be efficient with the current structure and volume. In addition, we want to reduce taxes to encourage investment and give greater dynamism to the economy.
At the beginning of last year, the government introduced the so-called royalty minero, which is expected to generate significant revenue for the budget this year. Is it happening? Do you consider it a good move?
In effect, the mining royalty has generated additional income for the tax coffers. The government has declared the best intentions regarding the use of these resources. However, Boric's government has generated significant indebtedness for the Chilean State. We are not seeing effective solutions to crime, illegal migration, or efficient investment in public infrastructure. Rather, we are seeing many members of radical leftist parties clinging like a tumor to the state administration, sucking away the resources of all Chileans. We are not seeing coherence between the fiscal balance and public results. And whether it was a good move? The answer is that it was one – for left-wing politicians. However, for the citizens who must suffer the bad mismanagement of this government, it is not really clear. The higher economic income is not reflected in a better quality of life for our citizens.
One of Chile's major export commodities is lithium. The current president pushed for the nationalization of lithium mines and the creation of a state-owned mining company. Do you not see it as problematic that this sector is controlled by foreign investors?
We see lithium as a source of income that can provide solutions to problems such as the contribution that our pensioners need. We have studied the Norwegian system, which largely bases pension financing on the income from its oil production. To this end, the strict definition of the margins with which lithium extractors must operate will allow for clear rules for all investors. Whether they are Chilean nationals or not, as long as they comply with what the law mandates, it should not be a problem. I believe that the first responsibility lies with the State of Chile to generate the best conditions for the economic and social symbiosis to be of the best possible nature.
Chile is one of the largest exporters in the food industry, including many organic products. Another key sector is mineral resources. Will the current US trade policy under President Donald Trump cause significant complications?
I think that the trade policy promoted by President Trump is not focused on countries like Chile. We as a country have had historically good trade relations with the United States of America. We have seen the best willingness of the US administration to adjust what was necessary. Undoubtedly, when such a powerful country as the United States initiates strong changes as it has done in these first months of the year, there is a secondary effect that could affect us economically. However, an important characteristic of our commercial structure is the diversification of destination markets. This significantly helps to reduce the impact it could have on our economy.
Chile has been highly active in the Latin American region for many years and is a member of several alliances; it was also a founding member of the Pacific Alliance in 2011. Do you consider economic cooperation between Latin America and the Euro-Pacific region to be crucial?
Having an economy with diverse trading partners has been one of Chile's important strengths, which has allowed us to grow sustainably. In this case, Chile already has trade agreements with the signatory countries. This agreement does not significantly increase the commercial benefits we already have, but rather integrates a series of restrictive measures that limit our actions. For example, the treaty restricts initiatives to create state-owned enterprises if they compete with private companies. This generates a problem for us with respect to the National Lithium Company.
The trade turnover between the Czech Republic and Chile increased from approximately 111 million USD in 2020 to around 158 million in 2024. Do you expect this trend to continue in the coming years? And are Czech products, such as automobiles – one of the most significant Czech exports to Chile – generally well-known in your country?
Trade between Chile and the Czech Republic has been steadily increasing. Our desire is to further strengthen the ties that connect our countries. The Škoda brand enjoys a long and prestigious presence in Chile. Recently, we have received offers of important solutions from Czech entrepreneurs such as the company Retex – a textile expert. They offered to recycle the enormous amounts of textile waste that today pollute our desert in the north of the country. We will be happy to work together.
What should a Czech tourist visiting your country definitely not miss?
Well, in addition to what I said above, I would recommend that you visit our natural beauties, such as the Torres del Paine or the Atacama Desert, ice fields, Easter Island, our coasts and many more wonderful locations. In addition, they can enjoy our gastronomy that presents novelties and variations depending on the region. They may savor meats of all kinds, fruits and vegetables, as well as seafood and fresh fish. In reality, the Chilean culture cannot be summarized just on paper. The best way to find out is to come and experience Chile firsthand!
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Johannes Kaiser (born January 5, 1976, in Santiago de Chile) is a deputy of the Republic of Chile and founder and president of the National Libertarian Party.
He studied Law at the Finis Terrae University, and studied Political Science, History and Economics at the Innsbruck University as well.
Today he is a member of the permanent commissions of Human Rights and Indigenous Peoples; National Defense and Interior Government and Regionalization.
His paleolibertarian ideas place him on the conservative Right in the social sphere, he is a minarchist regarding the role of the state and liberal concerning the economy. Johannes defines himself as a defender of individual freedom and rights of the human beings, from the moment of their conception.
He is running in this year's presidential election in Chile.
Wine
Many Czechs are fond of Chilean wines – after all, Chile is a major exporter. Does Johannes Kaiser enjoy wine as well? “I do enjoy wine, especially red,” he says. “In Chile, we have many grape varieties. My favorite is Carménère, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon. There are many brands, and each region has its own distinct character. We have plenty of excellent wines at very good prices. Travelling through the world of Chilean wine is a real pleasure. I invite all Czechs to visit Chile and enjoy a pleasant experience in our wine regions.”
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