Former RN President Carlos Larraín Backs José Antonio Kast Over Evelyn Matthei, Citing Backlash and Labor Disputes

A political dispute has emerged within Chile's right-wing parties over the presidential candidacy between Evelyn Matthei and José Antonio Kast. Carlos Larraín, former president of the National Renewal party (RN), publicly declared his support for Kast, diverging from Matthei's campaign. Larraín acknowledged potential backlash for his stance, stating, "Me van a pegar" (They will hit me). This division has prompted criticism from other party members, including Moreira, who accused those shifting support of abandoning the campaign due to unfavorable polling. Both Matthei and Kast have criticized the labor statistics presented by government official Jara, with Matthei emphasizing economic growth as a solution to improving employment. The internal conflict highlights the challenges facing Chile's right-wing factions as they prepare for the upcoming presidential election.