"Chile's president-elect, Jose Antonio Kast of the Republican Party, declined to comment on former president Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for UN Secretary-General following a meeting with her in Santiago on Monday. After a meeting that lasted more than two hours, Kast met with supporters outside Bachelet's Horizonte Ciudadano foundation and held a press conference, saying he will not comment on the issue until he officially takes office as president. "I am today a president-elect. It would not be appropriate for me to issue a statement or a judgment on something that only corresponds to me on the day I formally take office," he said. "One addresses all issues, but what is appropriate today is that we respect institutional order. Today, there is a president in office, who is President Gabriel Boric. I will take office only on March 11, and this will not be resolved today or tomorrow," he added. Chile's outgoing president, Gabriel Boric, endorsed Michelle Bachelet's candidacy for UN Secretary-General, announcing his support during the 80th UN General Assembly. He highlighted her international experience as president of UN Women and as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Kast also reported on his visit to Ecuador, where he will meet on Tuesday with President Daniel Noboa, hoping to talk about "issues of entrepreneurship, reactivation, but above all security, which is what affects us most today as a nation.""