| Eduardo Frei Ruiz–Tagle | |
| Nationality: | Chilean, Swiss |
| Order: | 31st |
| Office: | President of Chile |
| Term Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Term End: | 11 March 2000 |
| Predecessor: | Patricio Aylwin |
| Successor: | Ricardo Lagos |
| Office1: | Member of the Senate of Chile |
| Constituency1: | North Los Lagos Region |
| Term Start1: | 11 March 2006 |
| Term End1: | 11 March 2014 |
| Predecessor1: | Gabriel Valdés Subercaseaux |
| Successor1: | Alfonso de Urresti |
| Constituency2: | East Santiago |
| Term Start2: | 11 March 1990 |
| Term End2: | 11 March 1994 |
| Predecessor2: | Position established |
| Successor2: | María Elena Carrera |
| Office3: | President of the Senate of Chile |
| Term Start3: | 11 March 2006 |
| Term End3: | 11 March 2008 |
| Predecessor3: | Sergio Romero Pizarro |
| Successor3: | Adolfo Zaldívar |
| Office4: | Senator for life |
| Term Start4: | 11 March 2000 |
| Term End4: | 11 March 2006 |
| Successor4: | Office abolished |
| Birth Name: | Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle |
| Birth Date: | 24 June 1942 |
| Birth Place: | Santiago, Chile |
| Occupation: | Civil engineer |
| Children: | Verónica Cecilia Magdalena Catalina |
| Relatives: | Carmen Frei (Sister) |
| Party: | Christian Democratic |
| Alma Mater: | University of Chile |
| Signature: | Firma Frei Ruiz-Tagle.png |
Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz–Tagle (pronounced as /es/; born 24 June 1942) is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who served as president of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He was also a Senator, fulfilling the role of President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación coalition for the 2009 presidential election, but was narrowly defeated. His father was Eduardo Frei Montalva, president of Chile from 1964 to 1970.
His presidency was marked by a consolidation of Chile's transition to democracy albeit the indictment and arrest of Augusto Pinochet in his last year of government heated up national politics. Economically, he oversaw a period of rapid economic growth that was only temporarily stunted by the 1997 Asian financial crisis.
In the 2020s he has taken political positions different from those of the Christian Democratic Party aligning more with the views of centrist and right-wing parties in the constitutional referendums of 2022 and 2023.[1]
Frei was born in Santiago to Eduardo Frei Montalva and María Ruiz-Tagle Jiménez. He received all his schooling at the Luis Campino Institute. He then attended the University of Chile, where he graduated as a civil engineer, specializing in hydraulics. After graduation, he followed advanced courses in management in Italy.
Frei took his first steps in politics while at the university, where he was a student leader. In 1958, he joined the Christian Democrat party, and in 1964 participated actively in his father's successful presidential campaign. Between 1969 and 1988 he concentrated on his profession, as one of the partners of Sigdo Koppers S.A., the largest engineering company in Chile.
In 1988 Frei founded and promoted the Comité Pro Elecciones Libres ("Committee for the promotion of free elections"). In 1989, he was elected Senator for Santiago, obtaining the highest number of votes in the whole country. In the Senate, he presided over the Treasury and Budget Commission and was a member of the Housing Commission.
See also: White Earthquake.
| Align: | none |
| Frei Ruiz-Tagle | |
| President: | Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle |
| President Party: | DC |
| President Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| President End: | 11 March 2000 |
| Interior: | Germán Correa |
| Interior Party: | PS |
| Interior Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Interior End: | 20 September 1994 |
| Interior 2: | Carlos Figueroa Serrano |
| Interior Party 2: | DC |
| Interior Start 2: | 20 September 1994 |
| Interior End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Interior 3: | Raúl Troncoso |
| Interior Party 3: | DC |
| Interior Start 3: | 1 August 1998 |
| Interior End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Foreign Affairs: | Carlos Figueroa Serrano |
| Foreign Affairs Party: | DC |
| Foreign Affairs Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Foreign Affairs End: | 20 September 1994 |
| Foreign Affairs 2: | José Miguel Insulza |
| Foreign Affairs Party 2: | PS |
| Foreign Affairs Start 2: | 20 September 1994 |
| Foreign Affairs End 2: | 22 July 1999 |
| Foreign Affairs 3: | Juan Gabriel Valdés |
| Foreign Affairs Party 3: | PS |
| Foreign Affairs Start 3: | 22 July 1999 |
| Foreign Affairs End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Defense: | Edmundo Pérez Yoma |
| Defense Party: | DC |
| Defense Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Defense End: | 16 January 1998 |
| Defense 2: | Raúl Troncoso |
| Defense Party 2: | DC |
| Defense Start 2: | 16 January 1998 |
| Defense End 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Defense 3: | José Florencio Guzmán |
| Defense Party 3: | DC |
| Defense Start 3: | 1 August 1998 |
| Defense End 3: | 22 June 1999 |
| Defense 4: | Edmundo Pérez Yoma |
| Defense Party 4: | DC |
| Defense Start 4: | 22 June 1999 |
| Defense End 4: | 11 March 2000 |
| Finance: | Eduardo Aninat |
| Finance Party: | DC |
| Finance Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Finance End: | 3 December 1999 |
| Finance 2: | Manuel Marfán |
| Finance Party 2: | PS |
| Finance Start 2: | 3 December 1999 |
| Finance End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Segpres: | Genaro Arriagada |
| Segpres Party: | DC |
| Segpres Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Segpres End: | 28 September 1996 |
| Segpres 2: | Juan Villarzú |
| Segpres Party 2: | DC |
| Segpres Start 2: | 28 September 1996 |
| Segpres End 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Segpres 3: | John Biehl |
| Segpres Party 3: | Ind. |
| Segpres Start 3: | 1 August 1998 |
| Segpres End 3: | 29 July 1999 |
| Segpres 4: | José Miguel Insulza |
| Segpres Party 4: | PS |
| Segpres Start 4: | 29 July 1999 |
| Segpres End 4: | 11 March 2000 |
| Segegob: | Víctor Manuel Rebolledo |
| Segegob Party: | PPD |
| Segegob Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Segegob End: | 20 September 1994 |
| Segegob 2: | José Joaquín Brunner |
| Segegob Party 2: | PPD |
| Segegob Start 2: | 20 September 1994 |
| Segegob End 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Segegob 3: | Jorge Arrate |
| Segegob Party 3: | PS |
| Segegob Start 3: | 1 August 1998 |
| Segegob End 3: | 22 June 1999 |
| Segegob 4: | Carlos Mladinic |
| Segegob Party 4: | DC |
| Segegob Start 4: | 22 June 1999 |
| Segegob End 4: | 11 March 2000 |
| Economy: | Álvaro García Hurtado |
| Economy Party: | PPD |
| Economy Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Economy End: | 1 August 1998 |
| Economy 2: | Jorge Leiva Lavalle |
| Economy Party 2: | PPD |
| Economy Start 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Economy End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Conama: | Alejandro Jadresic |
| Conama Party: | Ind. |
| Conama Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Conama End: | 5 January 1998 |
| Conama 2: | Álvaro García Hurtado |
| Conama Party 2: | PPD |
| Conama Start 2: | 5 January 1998 |
| Conama End 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Conama 3: | Jorge Leiva Lavalle |
| Conama Party 3: | PPD |
| Conama Start 3: | 1 August 1998 |
| Conama End 3: | 24 November 1998 |
| Conama 4: | Óscar Landerretche |
| Conama Party 4: | PS |
| Conama Start 4: | 24 November 1998 |
| Conama End 4: | 11 March 2000 |
| Socialdev: | Luis Maira |
| Socialdev Party: | PS |
| Socialdev Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Socialdev End: | 28 September 1994 |
| Socialdev 2: | Roberto Pizarro Hofer |
| Socialdev Party 2: | PS |
| Socialdev Start 2: | 28 September 1994 |
| Socialdev End 2: | 19 May 1998 |
| Socialdev 3: | Germán Quintana |
| Socialdev Party 3: | DC |
| Socialdev Start 3: | 19 May 1998 |
| Socialdev End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Education: | Ernesto Schifelbein |
| Education Party: | Ind. |
| Education Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Education End: | 20 September 1994 |
| Education 2: | Sergio Molina Silva |
| Education Party 2: | DC |
| Education Start 2: | 20 September 1994 |
| Education End 2: | 28 September 1996 |
| Education 3: | José Pablo Arellano |
| Education Party 3: | DC |
| Education Start 3: | 28 September 1996 |
| Education End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Justice: | Soledad Alvear |
| Justice Party: | DC |
| Justice Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Justice End: | 16 December 1999 |
| Justice 2: | José Antonio Gómez |
| Justice Party 2: | PRSD |
| Justice Start 2: | 16 December 1999 |
| Justice End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Labor: | Jorge Arrate |
| Labor Party: | PS |
| Labor Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Labor End: | 1 August 1998 |
| Labor 2: | Germán Molina Valdivieso |
| Labor Party 2: | PPD |
| Labor Start 2: | 1 August 1998 |
| Labor End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Public Works: | Ricardo Lagos |
| Public Works Party: | PPD |
| Public Works Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Public Works End: | 11 March 1998 |
| Public Works 2: | Jaime Tohá |
| Public Works Party 2: | PS |
| Public Works Start 2: | 11 March 1998 |
| Public Works End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Transport: | Narciso Irureta |
| Transport Party: | DC |
| Transport Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Transport End: | 28 September 1996 |
| Transport 2: | Claudio Hohmann |
| Transport Party 2: | Ind. |
| Transport Start 2: | 28 September 1996 |
| Transport End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Health: | Carlos Massad |
| Health Party: | DC |
| Health Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Health End: | 7 August 1996 |
| Health 2: | Álex Figueroa |
| Health Party 2: | DC |
| Health Start 2: | 7 August 1996 |
| Health End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Housing: | Edmundo Hermosilla |
| Housing Party: | DC |
| Housing Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Housing End: | 24 July 1997 |
| Housing 2: | Sergio Henríquez |
| Housing Party 2: | Ind. |
| Housing Start 2: | 27 July 1997 |
| Housing End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| National Assets: | Adriana Delpiano |
| National Assets Party: | PPD |
| National Assets Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| National Assets End: | 13 April 1999 |
| National Assets 2: | Jorge Heine |
| National Assets Party 2: | PPD |
| National Assets Start 2: | 13 April 1999 |
| National Assets End 2: | 13 August 1999 |
| National Assets 3: | Sergio Galilea |
| National Assets Party 3: | PPD |
| National Assets Start 3: | 13 August 1999 |
| National Assets End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Agriculture: | Emiliano Ortega |
| Agriculture Party: | DC |
| Agriculture Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Agriculture End: | 28 September 1996 |
| Agriculture 2: | Carlos Mladinic |
| Agriculture Party 2: | DC |
| Agriculture Start 2: | 28 September 1996 |
| Agriculture End 2: | 22 July 1999 |
| Agriculture 3: | Ángel Sartori |
| Agriculture Party 3: | DC |
| Agriculture Start 3: | 22 July 1999 |
| Agriculture End 3: | 11 March 2000 |
| Mining: | Benjamín Teplizky |
| Mining Party: | PRSD |
| Mining Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Mining End: | 3 August 1997 |
| Mining 2: | Sergio Jiménez Moraga |
| Mining Party 2: | PRSD |
| Mining Start 2: | 3 August 1997 |
| Mining End 2: | 11 March 2000 |
| Sernam: | Josefina Bilbao |
| Sernam Party: | Ind. |
| Sernam Start: | 11 March 1994 |
| Sernam End: | 11 March 2000 |
In 1992, Frei participated in the presidential primary election of his coalition, defeating Ricardo Lagos, and then went on to win the presidential elections of 1993 by securing 58% of the votes cast.[2]
He took office on 11 March 1994 and was succeeded by Lagos in 2000. Frei's presidency was notable in making improvements in health and education as well as reducing poverty.[3]
Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, had particularly good relations with his Argentine counterpart Carlos Menem.[4] During Frei's ternure the Laguna del Desierto territorial dispute with Argentina was solved, albeit the arbitrage favoured the Argentine position.[4]
Following the end of his presidency, Frei assumed, as a former President, a seat as senator-for-life in Congress.
Since constitutional reforms in 2005 abolished life senators from 2006, Frei ran for and won an elected Senate seat in the December 2005 parliamentary elections in the electoral district of Valdivia Province and Osorno Province, together with Andrés Allamand. On 11 March 2006, Frei became President of the Senate, like his father, who was also President of the Senate after being President of the Republic.
Frei, whose grandfather Eduardo Frei Schlinz had emigrated to Chile from Switzerland, obtained Swiss citizenship in February 2009.[5] [6] [7] [8] [9]
In 2009–2010 elections, Frei ran for the presidency of Chile for a second time, again as the candidate of the centre-left Concertación center-coalition, promising continuity of the popular outgoing President Michelle Bachelet's path.[10] Some of his presidential campaign banners and billboards pictured him, accompanied by Bachelet over his left shoulder. In the first round of the elections, held on 13 December 2009, Frei held 29.60% of the official vote, second to his opponent Sebastián Piñera, who led with 44.05%. Since neither candidate received more than half of the total votes, a runoff election was held on Sunday, 17 January 2010. The first preliminary results announced by the Deputy Interior Ministry at 21:00 GMT on election day gave Piñera 51.87% and Frei holding 48.12%. Frei conceded[11] to Piñera at 21:44 GMT.
In a graceful exit from the campaign, Frei stated,
"The election is over and Chileans have shown civic maturity.... The results clearly show the solidity of our democracy. It has been clean and transparent in line with our tradition. I want to congratulate Pinera, to whom most Chileans have given their trust for the next four years."[12]
| Type: | Presidential |
| Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle | |
| Image Alt: | Flag of the President of Chile |
| Image2 Size: | 50px |
| Image2 Alt: | Arms of Eduardo Frei--> |
| Reference: | His Excellency |
| Spoken: | Your Excellency |
| Alternative: | Mr. President |
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