Arturo Frei
Encyclopedia
Arturo Frei Bolívar is a Chile
an political figure, a former senator
and presidential candidate in the 2000 election
.
He was born in Santiago
, son of Arturo Frei Montalva and of Marcela Bolívar Le Fort. His uncle was Eduardo Frei Montalva
, who would become president of Chile
in 1964. Arturo Frei studied at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones in Concepción
and Santiago. Later he studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
, graduating as a lawyer. As a student, he joined the Christian Democrat Party in 1957. Frei married María Beatriz Ruitort Barrenechea, and they have a son: Arturo Eduardo.
For a few years he was assistant professor of tax law, while also working as a lawyer at the Minister of Finance
. At the same time he was in participated of the 1964 election
that was won by his uncle. After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, he retired from politics and dedicated himself to private practice, and also to running the Irene Frei Montalva foundation, which provided free daycare for children of poor families.
In 1969, he was elected deputy
for Concepción, being reelected in 1973, with one of the highest majorities at the national level. After the return of the democracy, Frei was elected senator in 1989 and served as chairman of the Armed Forces Committee where he developed strong links with the military. After Pinochet's arrest, Frei visited the general in London and his independent presidential campaign to succeed his cousin Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
was seen as a maneuver by the general to prevent Ricardo Lagos
from winning the election. The Progressive Union of the Centrist Center
presented Frei as their candidate for the 1999 presidential elections
, where Frei fared disastrously, gaining only 0.35% of the vote, the lowest percentage of any candidate since the end of the military régime.
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an political figure, a former senator
Senate of Chile
The Senate of the Republic of Chile is the upper house of Chile's bicameral National Congress, as established in the current Constitution of Chile.-Composition:...
and presidential candidate in the 2000 election
Chilean presidential election, 1999-2000
A presidential election was held in Chile on December 12, 1999. None of the candidates achieved an absolute majority and a runoff election among the top two contenders was held on January 16, 2000. In the first round, a total of 7,271,572 Chileans cast their vote, of an electorate of 8,084,476...
.
He was born in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, son of Arturo Frei Montalva and of Marcela Bolívar Le Fort. His uncle was Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva
Eduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...
, who would become president of Chile
President of Chile
The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...
in 1964. Arturo Frei studied at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones in Concepción
Concepción, Chile
Concepción is a city in Chile, capital of Concepción Province and of the Biobío Region or Region VIII. Greater Concepción is the second-largest conurbation in the country, with 889,725 inhabitants...
and Santiago. Later he studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and...
, graduating as a lawyer. As a student, he joined the Christian Democrat Party in 1957. Frei married María Beatriz Ruitort Barrenechea, and they have a son: Arturo Eduardo.
For a few years he was assistant professor of tax law, while also working as a lawyer at the Minister of Finance
Ministry of Finance (Chile)
The Ministry of Finance of Chile is the cabinet-level administrative office in charge of managing the financial affairs, fiscal policy and capital markets of Chile; planning, directing, coordinating, executing, controlling and informing all financial policies formulated by the President of...
. At the same time he was in participated of the 1964 election
Chilean presidential election, 1964
A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1964. Christian Democratic candidate Eduardo Frei Montalva won the election by an absolute majority....
that was won by his uncle. After the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, he retired from politics and dedicated himself to private practice, and also to running the Irene Frei Montalva foundation, which provided free daycare for children of poor families.
In 1969, he was elected deputy
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
The Chamber of Deputies of the Republic of Chile is the lower house of Chile's bicameral Congress. Its organisation and its powers and duties are defined in articles 42 to 59 of Chile's current constitution....
for Concepción, being reelected in 1973, with one of the highest majorities at the national level. After the return of the democracy, Frei was elected senator in 1989 and served as chairman of the Armed Forces Committee where he developed strong links with the military. After Pinochet's arrest, Frei visited the general in London and his independent presidential campaign to succeed his cousin Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who was President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He is currently Senator for Los Ríos and was President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación...
was seen as a maneuver by the general to prevent Ricardo Lagos
Ricardo Lagos
Ricardo Froilán Lagos Escobar is a lawyer, economist and social democrat politician, who served as president of Chile from 2000 to 2006. He won the 1999-2000 presidential election by a narrow margin in a runoff over Independent Democrat Union candidate Joaquín Lavín...
from winning the election. The Progressive Union of the Centrist Center
Progressive Union of the Centrist Center
The Progressive Union of the Centrist Center was a small center-right political party in Chile....
presented Frei as their candidate for the 1999 presidential elections
Chilean presidential election, 1999-2000
A presidential election was held in Chile on December 12, 1999. None of the candidates achieved an absolute majority and a runoff election among the top two contenders was held on January 16, 2000. In the first round, a total of 7,271,572 Chileans cast their vote, of an electorate of 8,084,476...
, where Frei fared disastrously, gaining only 0.35% of the vote, the lowest percentage of any candidate since the end of the military régime.