Chile's Kast presents 2027 budget with 1.5% spending growth, fiscal consolidation

Chilean President José Antonio Kast's administration has presented the 2027 Budget Bill, proposing public spending growth of just 1.5% under a fiscal consolidation framework. The move signals a shift toward austerity, potentially slowing public investment and affecting economic growth. The budget's passage through Congress remains uncertain, and its impact on social programs is contested.