President Kast resumes supreme command after returning to the country

The President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast Rist, resumed supreme command of the Nation upon his return to national territory, according to Decree No. 120, dated July 28, 2026, from the Ministry of the Interior, published in Section I (General Norms) of the Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile No. 44,541, of Thursday, September 3, 2026, page 1.

The measure closes the vice presidency that had been assumed by the Minister of the Interior, Claudio Alvarado Andrade, who exercised supreme command with the title of Vice President of the Republic during the president’s absence, pursuant to Decree No. 118, dated July 27, 2026, also published in the same bulletin.

A return that restores the fullness of the office

Decree No. 120 is based on Articles 29 and 32 No. 6 of the Political Constitution of the Republic, as well as Resolution No. 36 of 2024 of the Comptroller General of the Republic and its amendments. The text states that, “bearing in mind that I have returned to national territory this day,” the president resumes supreme command of the Nation.

The document bears the signature of President José Antonio Kast Rist and the Minister of the Interior, Claudio Alvarado Andrade, and was transcribed by the Undersecretary of the Interior, Máximo Pavez Cantillano.

The vice presidency that is now closed

The vice presidency had been activated one day prior, on July 27, 2026, through Decree No. 118, which stipulated that Claudio Alvarado Andrade assume supreme command with the title of Vice President of the Republic, as the president was absent from national territory.

• Decree No. 118 (07/27/2026): Claudio Alvarado Andrade assumes the vice presidency.
• Decree No. 120 (07/28/2026): José Antonio Kast Rist resumes supreme command.
• Issuing body: Ministry of the Interior, Undersecretariat of the Interior.
• Bulletin: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile No. 44,541, Section I, General Norms, p. 1.

Institutional relevance

The publication formalizes the full restitution of presidential powers following a temporary displacement of the head of state, a constitutional procedure of maximum political impact that guarantees the continuity of command. For readers, it confirms that the leadership of the country has returned to the hands of President Kast, with the consequent cessation of the vice presidency exercised by the Minister of the Interior.

Source: Official Gazette of the Republic of Chile, No. 44,541, September 3, 2026, Section I, General Norms, p. 1 (official reference: CVE 2862249 and CVE 2862250).