The Government of Chile presented this Monday, December 15, a note of diplomatic protest to Colombia after qualifying as “unacceptable” the statements of President Gustavo Petro against the elected Chilean president, José Antonio Kast, after his victory in the second presidential round held this Sunday.

The protest marks a new episode of tension in relations between both countries and opens a regional debate on the limits of political pronouncement between governments.

According to the Chilean Foreign Minister, Alberto van Klaveren, the note was formally delivered to the Colombian ambassador in Santiago as an expression of official annoyance at the comments published by Petro on his X account, in which he described Kast as “fascist” and pointed it out as “Hitler’s son.”

For the Chilean Government, these messages constitute direct interference in internal affairs and a lack of respect for the sovereign decision of the electorate.

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“The position of the State of Chile is clear: the democratic decisions of our country must be respected from anywhere in the world”said van Klaveren.

The position was supported by the Minister of the Interior, Álvaro Elizalde, who stressed that Chilean democracy was built precisely to guarantee that the popular will is obeyed, regardless of ideological affinities.

Chile’s note of protest occurs despite the fact that President Petro is considered an ideological ally of the current Chilean president, Gabriel Boric. However, the Chilean Executive made it clear that political affinity does not justify statements that question the result of a legitimate electoral process.

The Colombian president’s statements included messages in which he assured that “fascism advances” in Latin America and would never shake hands with “a Nazi or a son of a Nazi”in reference to Kast’s family background.

For the Chilean Government, beyond the historical background, Petro’s statements affect the dignity of the presidential office and ignore the majority decision of the Chilean people. José Antonio Kast will assume the Presidency of Chile on March 11, for a period of four years.

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