Martín Zilic

Martín Zilic
Minister of Education
In office
11 March 2006 – 14 July 2006
Preceded byMarigen Hornkohl
Succeeded byYasna Provoste
Intendant of the Bío-Bío Region
In office
11 March 1994 – 11 March 2000
Preceded byAdolfo Veloso
Succeeded byJaime Tohá
Personal details
Born (1974-04-22) 22 April 1974
PartyChristian Democratic Party
SpouseMaría Soledad Viel de la Maza
ChildrenThree
Alma mater
OccupationPolitician
ProfessionPhysician

Martín Nicolás Zilic Hrepic (born 22 April 1947) is a Chilean physician and former politician. While a student in the University of Concepción he participated in the November 18, 1971, meeting with Fidel Castro.[1] During his time as Minister of Education[2][3][4] he had to face the 2006 student protests in Chile.

Biography

The son of Croatian immigrants, he completed his secondary education at San Luis School of Antofagasta.[5] He later qualified as a physician and surgeon from the University of Concepción in January 1976. He obtained a Master of Science degree with a specialization in general surgery from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium, and a second Master of Science degree, specializing in intensive care and resuscitation, from the same institution in 1983.[5]

Between 1992 and 1994, he served as director of the Regional Clinical Hospital of Concepción.[6] He later served as Intendant of the Biobío Region during the administration of his close friend Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994–2000).[5][6]

After returning to academic life, between 2000 and 2005 he promoted the creation of the Biotechnology Center at the University of Concepción, becoming its first director. Together with UNIDO,[7] he organized the First Global Biotechnology Forum, held in Concepción between 2 and 5 March 2004.[5][6]

In March 2006, Bachelet asked him to serve as Minister of Education. Only a few months into his tenure, he was confronted with the most significant student protests in Chile in more than thirty years, driven by widespread dissatisfaction among students with the state of public education in the country's municipal secondary schools.[5][6][8]

President Bachelet requested his resignation on 14 July 2006. He left office alongside Andrés Zaldívar (Interior) and Ingrid Antonijevic (Economy, Development and Reconstruction). Following his departure from government, he returned to the University of Concepción.[9][10]

In 2011, he unsuccessfully sought his party's nomination for mayor of Concepción.[11]

He is married in his second marriage to María Soledad Biel de la Maza.

References

  1. ↑ Osorio Reyes, Víctor (June 27, 2006). "Un diálogo con Martín Zilic y Fidel Castro". Crónica Digital (in Spanish). Retrieved August 3, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Mundo de la educación "sorprendido" por salida de ministro Martín Zilic". El Mostrador. 15 July 2006. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  3. ↑ "Ex Ministro de Educación Martin Zilic: "Chile puede y debe financiar una educación de calidad"". CNN Chile. 9 April 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  4. ↑ "Martín Zilic Ex Intendente del Biobío Ex Ministro de Educación". El Conquistador de Concepción. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 La Tercera (Santiago), 4 June 2006, p. 24.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Icarito
  7. ↑ "Onudi". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2007.
  8. ↑ FLAPE, Reference Bulletin No. 19
  9. ↑ Universia
  10. ↑ El Sur (Concepción), 28 July 2006
  11. ↑ 123.cl, 15 January 2012, 8:20 p.m.