Luis Figueroa del Río
Luis Figueroa del Río | |
|---|---|
| Ambassador of Chile at the UNESCO | |
| In office April 1985 – December 1987 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Succeeded by | Samuel Fernández Illanes |
| Minister of Planning | |
| In office 8 May 1984 – April 1985 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Hernán Büchi Buc |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Valenzuela Ramírez |
| Undersecretary of Interior | |
| In office 13 September 1983 – 22 May 1984 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Germán Gardeweg Lacourt |
| Succeeded by | Alberto Cardemil |
| Undersecretary of Agriculture | |
| In office 1 January 1981 – 13 September 1983 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | José Luis Toro |
| Succeeded by | Jaime de la Sotta |
| Undersecretary of Lands | |
| In office 14 September 1979 – 1 January 1981 | |
| President | Augusto Pinochet |
| Preceded by | Luis Beytía Barrios |
| Succeeded by | Abolished |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1941 |
| Died | 16 November 2018 (aged 77) |
| Resting place | Parque del Recuerdo (Chile) |
| Nationality | Chilen |
| Spouse | María Eugenia Salas Richaud |
| Children | Macarena; Vicente; Raúl Figueroa |
| Parent(s) | Raúl Figueroa Martínez; Raquel del Río Bretignere |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile |
| Occupation | Politician |
Luis Simón Figueroa del Río (29 July 1941 – 16 November 2018) was a Chilean lawyer and political figure who served as a senior undersecretary of State during the Pinochet regime of General Augusto Pinochet.[1]
He studied at the Faculty of Law of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile between 1959 and 1963, later developing a career in both the public and private sectors. He held several high-ranking offices, including Undersecretary of National Assets (1979–1981); Undersecretary of Agriculture; Undersecretary of the Interior (1983–1984); Minister-Director of ODEPLAN (1984–1985); and Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Chile to UNESCO (1985–1987).[2]
He was also an international consultant for the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) and acted as arbitrator and mediator at the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the Cámara de Comercio de Santiago (CCS).[2] He was the main drafter of the current Chilean Water Code.
Biography
Figueroa was married to María Eugenia Salas Richaud and had three children —Macarena, Vicente and Raúl Figueroa— all of whom became lawyers.[2]
He received his law degree in 1966 and specialized throughout his career in civil, agricultural and water law. He taught Water Law at various universities, including Universidad Central de Chile, Universidad Gabriela Mistral, Universidad de Talca and the Universidad de Atacama.[2]
He obtained postgraduate studies in mediation from the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA).[2]
His publications include «La asignación y la distribución de las aguas terrestres». He delivered multiple lectures in Chile and abroad.
Professional career
He served as a consultant for the Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID) on water legislation and rural property. He helped draft a Water Code proposal for Perú and co-drafted a General Water Law for Ecuador. He also participated in international seminars in Washington D.C., La Paz and Bogotá, organized by the Banco Mundial and the BID.[2]
He was a member of the Arbitration and Mediation Center of the CCS and director of the Chilean chapter of the Latin American Association of Groundwater Hydrology for Development (ALHSUD). He was also a member of the Colegio de Abogados de Chile.[2]
Political career
Before joining government, he worked with the Sociedad Nacional de Agricultura (SNA) and organized several gremial bodies. He reorganized the Confederación de Canalistas de Chile.[2]
In December 1979 he was appointed Undersecretary of National Assets, thereafter serving as Undersecretary of Agriculture, Undersecretary of the Interior, Minister-Director of ODEPLAN, and later Ambassador to UNESCO (1985–1987).[2]
As undersecretary and minister, he chaired the commission responsible for drafting the current Chilean Water Code.[2]