Ricardo García Rodríguez
Ricardo García Rodríguez | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Constitutional Court | |
| In office 1989–1997 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 11 July 1987 – 21 November 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Jaime del Valle |
| Succeeded by | Hernán Felipe Errázuriz |
| Minister of the Interior | |
| In office 12 February 1985 – 11 July 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Sergio Onofre Jarpa |
| Succeeded by | Sergio Fernández Fernández |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 December 1930 Valparaíso, Chile |
| Died | 14 June 2022 (aged 91) Santiago, Chile |
| Party | Christian Democratic Party[1] (−1973)[1] |
| Spouse | Sylvia Lisa Holtz |
| Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso (LL.B) |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Ricardo García Rodríguez (3 December 1930 – 14 June 2022)[2] was a Chilean lawyer and politician who served as minister.
Early life and education
Rodríguez was born in Valparaíso on 3 December 1930, the son of Juan Facundo Severo García Luco and María Carolina Rodríguez Barros.[3] He completed his primary and secondary education at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones in Valparaíso, where he received all the school’s distinctions.[4]
While studying at the Sagrados Corazones school, he met Carlos Cáceres Contreras, who would later become his student when Rodríguez taught law at the School of Business in the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso.[4]
Career
During his youth, he was a member of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC).[5] Later, on 13 February 1985, he was appointed Minister of the Interior by General Augusto Pinochet, a move that came as a surprise given his limited prior experience in politics.[5]
As the successor to Sergio Onofre Jarpa, during his first month in office he had to confront the Caso Degollados, which culminated in the resignation of the Director General of Carabineros, César Mendoza. In 1986, he also faced the Caso Quemados,[4] in which Rodrigo Rojas de Negri was killed and Carmen Gloria Quintana suffered severe burns,[4] as well as the assassination attempt against Augusto Pinochet, after which he decreed a state of siege.[6]
On the other hand, during his tenure new laws were enacted on political parties, elections and vote counting, and electoral registers, as well as legislation establishing the Electoral Qualification Courts and the law governing the National Congress of Chile.[4] In addition, in April 1987, he was responsible for coordinating the visit of Pope John Paul II.[4]
On 11 July 1987, he assumed office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held until 21 November 1988. The following year, he was appointed a member of the Constitutional Court, where he served until 1997.[3]
Family
In 1962, he married Sylvia Lisa Holtz Weisser, of German descent, with whom he had five children.[4]
His brother, Juan Ignacio, a lawyer by profession, served, among other roles, as Director of the Electoral Service between 1986 and 2013.[4][7]
Death
He died in Santiago on 14 June 2022, at the age of 91, as a result of respiratory failure.[4]
References
- ^ a b Rio, Alejandro del (12 February 1985). "Pinochet sustituye a los ministros de Interior y Hacienda chilenos". El País. El País. Retrieved 12 December 2021.
- ^ "A los 91 años falleció el exministro del Interior y excanciller Ricardo García Rodríguez". Litoral Press. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ a b "Ricardo García Rodríguez". Anales de la República (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "A los 91 años falleció el exministro del Interior y excanciller Ricardo García Rodríguez". Litoralpress (in Spanish). El Mercurio (Cuerpo C). Archived from the original on 2022-12-16. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ a b Alejandro del Río (1985-02-13). "Pinochet sustituye a los ministros de Interior y Hacienda chilenos". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 2025-12-19.
- ^ Agustín Edwards (2004-12-05). "Los imperdonables". La Nación (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2012-09-11.
- ^ "Comunicamos fallecimiento de exdirector del Servel Juan Ignacio García R." Servicio Electoral de Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2017-07-18. Retrieved 2025-12-19.