By Javiera Ortiz May 31, 2026
The Criteria poll reported that the approval of President José Antonio Kast decreased slightly for the second consecutive week and disapproval increased in a scenario marked by tensions surrounding the National Reconstruction bill and public spending.
According to the most recent results of the Criteria survey, the President's approval fell one point from the previous measurement, reaching 36%.
In contrast, disapproval reached 53%, an increase of four points.
Emergency situation
Regarding the direction taken by the government's management of the emergency situation — rhetoric installed by the government — the proportion of people who consider the Executive's direction wrong increased. This indicator rose 5 points, reaching 46%.
Meanwhile, 34% consider the management to have been correct, a figure that has been declining for four consecutive weeks. Uncertainty decreased 4 points, so 20% state they have no clarity.
Both the evaluation of personal attributes and the President's management remain relatively stable since the last measurement, although with slight declines in most dimensions.
The perception of the ability to confront crime fell 6 points to 38%, and the perception of closeness to the people remains among the lowest, at 35%.
Among his main strengths, meanwhile, "he is hardworking" stands at 54% and "he is capable of growing the economy" at 53%.
Security plan
Regarding his security plan, the predominant perception is that the Kast government does not have a clear plan and is improvising, with 45%. Only 12% consider that there is a clear strategy in this area.
This perception is especially high among left-wing people at 86%, while it decreases significantly among those who identify with the right, reaching 19%.
National Reconstruction bill
Regarding the Reconstruction and Economic and Social Development bill, its positive perception has declined since the last measurement. 37% — three points less — consider its effects will be rather positive, while 34% consider they will be rather negative.
The perception of who would be the main beneficiaries of the law continues to point to large business owners, and the idea persists that the reform is aimed more at favoring higher-income sectors than the majority of the population.
47% — two points more than the previous measurement — consider it would mainly favor large companies and higher-income people, while 34% estimate it aims at job creation for the general population.
At the same time, the group of people who do not adhere to either of these two positions decreased, reaching 19%.
Regarding opinions on the processing of the Reconstruction Law, these appear divided. 28% prefer that it be approved through broad political agreements and another 28% consider it should not be approved.
Meanwhile, 25% opt for quick approval, even if there is no consensus.
Regarding political differences, on the left the option that the law should not be approved predominates widely, at 68%, while on the right the majority prefer it to be approved quickly, even without political consensus, at 47%.
Public Spending
Regarding public spending, there is a growing and majority rejection of the idea of reducing state debt and spending if it affects social benefits, increasing from 45% to 59% between March and May.
Conversely, neutral positions and direct support for cuts experienced a continuous decline over the same period. The option "Agree or strongly agree" fell from 25% to 18%, while undecided respondents decreased from 30% to 23%.
Regarding perceptions of the financial situation inherited from the Gabriel Boric government to the current administration. Compared to the March measurement, the percentage of those who consider the situation "very serious" decreased from 35% to 28% and increased among those who perceive it as "somewhat serious" from 21% to 30%.
Meanwhile, the proportion that evaluates it as "not very serious or not at all serious" remains stable at 35%.
Likewise, significant differences persist according to political identification, as on the right a critical view of the economic situation predominates with 84% between "somewhat" and "very serious", while on the left the perception that the situation is "not very or not at all serious" prevails with 68%.
