Hugo Gálvez

Hugo Gálvez Gajardo
Minister of Labor
In office
10 August 1983 – 6 November 1984
PresidentAugusto Pinochet
Preceded byPatricio Mardones Gajardo
Succeeded byAlfonso Márquez de la Plata
In office
15 September 1960 – 26 September 1963
PresidentJorge Alessandri
Preceded byEduardo Gomien Díaz
Succeeded byMiguel Schweitzer Speisky
Mayor of San Bernardo
In office
1950–1953
Preceded byAaron Osorio Vidal
Succeeded byJosé María Domínguez
In office
1956–1959
Councillor (Regidor) of San Bernardo
In office
1947–1950
Rector of the Universidad Central de Chile
In office
1985–1995
Preceded byCarlos Blin Arriagada
Succeeded byVicente Kovacevic Poklepovic
Personal details
Born(1920-03-18)March 18, 1920
Valparaíso, Chile
DiedMarch 22, 1995(1995-03-22) (aged 75)
Santiago, Chile
PartyLiberal Party (expelled 1963)
SpouseAmelia Carvallo Andrade
Children7
Alma materPontifical Catholic University of Chile
OccupationLawyer, academic, businessman, politician

Hugo Gálvez Gajardo (18 March 1920 – 22 March 1995) was a Chilean lawyer, academic, businessman, and right-wing politician. He served twice as Chile's Minister of Labor: first under President Jorge Alessandri (1960–1963), and later during the military government of General Augusto Pinochet (1983–1984).

He was also mayor of San Bernardo in two non-consecutive terms and later became the founding rector of the Universidad Central de Chile.

Early life and education

Gálvez was born in Valparaíso to Víctor Gálvez Bonmaison and Teresa Gajardo Ariagada. He studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating in 1946 with the thesis «De la terminación del mandato civil» (“On the Termination of Civil Mandate”). He also pursued studies in philosophy at the Pontifical Seminary of Santiago.[1][2]

He married Amelia Carvallo Andrade, with whom he had seven children: Amelia, Eduardo Víctor, Hugo Gabriel, Jorge Fernando, Ruby, Teresa Marina, and Víctor Hugo.[3]

Political career

After working privately as a lawyer, Gálvez entered local politics in San Bernardo, serving as a councillor (regidor) from 1947 to 1950. He was elected mayor of the commune in two separate periods: 1950–1953 and 1956–1959.[2][1]

As a member of the Liberal Party, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Welfare by President Alessandri on 15 September 1960. In 1963 he was expelled from the party for supporting Alessandri's potential re-election bid for the 1964 presidential race.[3]

In 1983, during the military regime, he returned to the same ministry at the request of General Pinochet. His administration enacted a reform establishing a five-year minimum for severance-pay calculations.[4]

Professional career

After leaving the ministry in 1984, Gálvez held several public-sector positions: legal officer at the Ministry of Justice, counsel for the Commission of International Exchange, and legal counsel for both the Central Bank of Chile and the Banco del Estado de Chile.[1]

He was also involved in journalism as editor and owner of the local newspaper El Debate. He taught at both the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University.[2]

In 1982 he founded the Universidad Central de Chile, becoming its rector in 1985. The university's Extension Centre is named in his honour.[5] From 1992 to 1994 he served as president of the Corporation of Private Universities of Chile.[1]

He was declared “Illustrious Son” of San Bernardo in 1994.[1]

Death

Gálvez died in Santiago on 22 March 1995 at the age of 75 from cardiovascular complications.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f El Mercurio (Santiago), 23 March 1995, C6.
  2. ^ a b c Armando de Ramón et al., Biografías de Chilenos: Miembros de los Poderes Ejecutivo, Legislativo y Judicial (1876–1973), Santiago: Ediciones UC, 2003, vol. II, p.129.
  3. ^ a b Anales de la República, “Hugo Gálvez Gajardo”.
  4. ^ La Tercera (Santiago), 3 December 2006, p.58.
  5. ^ “Grandes Hitos”, Universidad Central de Chile (archived 22 May 2012).