Carlos Figueroa Serrano

Carlos Figueroa
Minister of the Interior
In office
20 September 1994 – 1 August 1998
PresidentEduardo Frei Ruíz-Tagle
Preceded byGermán Correa
Succeeded byRaúl Troncoso
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
11 March 1994 – 20 September 1994
PresidentEduardo Frei Ruíz-Tagle
Preceded byEnrique Silva Cimma
Succeeded byJosé Miguel Insulza
Ambassador of Chile to Argentina
In office
26 April 1990 – 17 May 1993
PresidentPatricio Aylwin
Preceded bySergio Gaete
Succeeded byEdmundo Vargas
Minister Economy, Development and Tourism
In office
5 September 1969 – 3 November 1970
PresidentEduardo Frei Montalva
Preceded byEnrique Krauss
Succeeded byPedro Vuskovic
Undersecretary of Agriculture
In office
1967–1968
PresidentEduardo Frei Montalva
Preceded byDaniel Barría
Succeeded byFelipe Amunátegui
Personal details
Born (1930-11-28) 28 November 1930
PartyChristian Democratic Party
ChildrenSeven
Parent(s)Carlos Figueroa Unzuela
Isabel Serrano
Alma materUniversity of Chile (LL.B)
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionLawyer

Carlos Figueroa Serrano (born 28 November 1930) is a Chilean politician and lawyer who served as minister during the presidencies of Eduardo Frei Montalva (1964−1970) and Eduardo Frei Ruíz-Tagle.[1] Similarly, he was ambassador of Chile in Argentina.[2]

In 1957, he graduated as a lawyer.[3]

Early life

Figueroa was born to Carlos Figueroa Unzueta and Isabel Serrano Menchaca. He completed his primary and secondary education at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones de Santiago. He subsequently studied law at the University of Chile, qualifying as a lawyer in 1957.[4]

Beginning in 1960, he served as a professor of procedural law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile.[4][5] He also served as an abogado integrante (associate justice) of the Santiago Court of Appeals in 1971 and 1972.[5]

He married Sara Guzmán Valdés, with whom he had seven children.[6]

Political career

Early political career

Figueroa joined the Christian Democratic Party in 1957, the year of its foundation.[4]

During the administration of President Eduardo Frei Montalva, he served as Undersecretary of Agriculture in 1967, during the implementation of the Chilean land reform, and later as Minister of Economy, Development and Reconstruction from 1969 to 1970. During this period he also served as acting minister in the portfolios of Agriculture, Lands and Colonization, and Foreign Affairs.[5]

From 1972 to 1973, he was communications director for Eduardo Frei Montalva's Senate campaign.[4]

Concertación

In 1988, Figueroa served as executive undersecretary of the No campaign during the 1988 Chilean national plebiscite, which ultimately led to the end of General Augusto Pinochet's rule.[4] He subsequently headed communications and advertising for the presidential campaign of Patricio Aylwin, who served as President of Chile from 1990 to 1994.[5]

Following the inauguration of President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in 1994, Figueroa was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and shortly thereafter Minister of the Interior.[4][5]

After leaving office in 1998, citing health reasons, he joined Senator Andrés Zaldívar's presidential campaign, although Zaldívar ultimately did not become his party's presidential nominee.

Figueroa also served as Ambassador of Chile to Argentina, one of Chile's most strategically important diplomatic postings.[5][7]

He also served as president of the Supreme Tribunal of the Christian Democratic Party.[8][9]

Media activities

Figueroa was also active in the media sector. He served as president of the Association of Chilean Broadcasters (ARCHI) from 1972 to 1978 and as a member of the board of the International Association of Broadcasting (AIR) from 1973 to 1979.[4]

He also served on the board of the company operating Radio Cooperativa, one of Chile's most influential radio stations.[8][9]

References

  1. ↑ "Los archivos secretos de Figueroa". Qué Pasa. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "El Embajador de Chile Carlos Figueroa Serrano con Carlos Menem - DiFilm (1990)". Di Film Archive. 26 April 1990. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  3. ↑ "Universidad Miguel de Cervantes distingue a Carlos Figueroa Serrano con Premio 'Don Quijote de la Mancha 2018'". Miguel de Cervantes University. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Interview with Patricia Arancibia Clavel on the television program Cita con la historia
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 El Mercurio (Santiago), 21 September 1994, p. C2.
  6. ↑ La Segunda (Santiago), 24 December 1993, p. 2.
  7. ↑ La Tercera (Santiago), 11 July 2008, p. 5.
  8. 1 2 La Tercera (Santiago), 24 January 2008, p. 6.
  9. 1 2 La Tercera (Santiago), 23 January 2008, p. 8.