Kast Leads First Great Military Parade, Largest Lineup in 17 Years

President José Antonio Kast presided over Chile's Gran Parada Militar for the first time since his March 11 inauguration, at the elipse of Parque O'Higgins in Santiago beginning at noon. The Army fielded 10,206 troops — its largest lineup in 17 years — with the Navy, Air Force, Carabineros and, for the first time, Gendarmería also marching, alongside 1,764 women in the ranks. The ceremony restored the Medalla al Valor military decoration to the parade program for the first time since 1986. The parade capped Chile's 216th Fiestas Patrias and Kast's first Independence Day in office, held against a backdrop of record-low approval polls and 9.5% unemployment.