Álvaro Bellolio
Álvaro Bellolio | |
|---|---|
Álvaro Bellolio in 2021 | |
| Regional Councilor of Santiago Metropolitan Region | |
| Assumed office December 6, 2024 | |
| Constituency | Santiago IV |
| National Director of the National Migration Service | |
| In office 28 May 2021 – 11 March 2022 | |
| President | Sebastián Piñera |
| Preceded by | Creation of the office |
| Succeeded by | Luis Thayer Correa |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Independent Democratic Union |
| Parent(s) | Jaime Bellolio Rodríguez Margarita Avaria |
| Relatives | Jaime Bellolio (brother) |
| Alma mater | |
Álvaro Bellolio Avaria is a Chilean industrial engineer and politician. Since 6 December 2024, he has served as a regional councilor for the Santiago Metropolitan Region.
From 28 May 2021 to 11 March 2022 he was National Director of the National Migration Service (SERMIG) during the second government of Sebastián Piñera. Previously, between 2018 and 2021, he headed the Departamento de Extranjería y Migración (DEM) of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security.[1][2]
Bellolio contributes opinion columns to outlets such as Nuevo Poder and El Líbero, on topics including electoral participation of foreign residents and foreign policy risks.[3][4]
Family and education
He is the son of Jaime Bellolio Rodríguez, former director of Canal 13, and Margarita María Avaria Benapres.[5] He is the brother of former deputy and minister Jaime Bellolio.[6]
He studied at Colegio Cordillera and earned a degree in Industrial Engineering with a mention in Information Technologies from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He later completed a master's degree in public policy at the University of Chicago.[2][1]
Professional career
Bellolio participated in work of the OECD on migration policy (Working Party on Migration).[2] During the second Piñera administration (2018–2022) he headed the DEM of the Interior Ministry, and following the enactment of Chile’s new Migration Law in April 2021, he was appointed the first National Director of the newly created SERMIG on 28 May 2021.[2]
Since May 2022 he has served as Director of the School of Government at Andrés Bello University.[7]
Political career
In December 2024 Álvaro Bellolio (UDI) was elected regional councilor for Santiago IV with 82,032 votes.[8] Under Article 42 of the Metropolitan Regional Council Regulations, if the regional governor is temporarily unable to exercise his functions, the councilor with the highest citizen vote acts as acting president of the council.[9]
In June 2025, regional councilors from the Republican Party and the Independent Democratic Union submitted a petition to the Election Qualifying Court (TRICEL) requesting the dismissal of the Governor of Santiago, Claudio Orrego, alleging serious breaches of duty and violations of administrative probity. The filing, backed by 16 councilors, listed 17 charges related to a Comptroller General report on campaign funding.[10][11]
References
- ^ a b "Piñera appoints Álvaro Bellolio as director of the new National Migration Service". El Mostrador. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d "President appoints Álvaro Bellolio as director of the new National Migration Service". Emol. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "The vote of foreigners in Chile". Nuevo Poder. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Articles by Álvaro Bellolio in El Líbero". Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Parliamentary biographies: Jaime Andrés Bellolio Avaria". Library of the National Congress of Chile. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- ^ "Minister Jaime Bellolio's brother appointed director of the National Migration Service". El Desconcierto. 28 May 2021.
- ^ "UNAB creates new research center and two institutes". Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "Regional Council Elections 2024 – Results". Emol. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
- ^ "How Claudio Orrego's replacement would be chosen if his removal prospers". Ex-Ante. 12 June 2025. Retrieved 17 June 2025.
- ^ "Republican and UDI councilors formally request the removal of Governor Orrego". Radio Universidad de Chile. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
- ^ "UDI and Republicans file motion to remove Orrego, accusing 17 serious acts before the Tricel". La Tercera. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.