President of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile explained

Post:President
Body:the
Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Native Name:Presidente de la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile
Insignia:Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de Chile.png
Insigniasize:120px
Insigniacaption:Emblem of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Flag:Flag of Chile.svg
Flagsize:120px
Incumbent:Karol Cariola
Incumbentsince:15 April 2024
Department:Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Style:His Excellency
The Honorable
Status:Presiding officer
Seat:National Congress of Chile, Valparaíso
Nominator:Political parties
Appointer:Chamber of Deputies of Chile
Termlength:One legislative year
Constituting Instrument:Constitution of Chile
First:Juan Antonio Ovalle
Deputy:First Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies
Second Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies
Salary:US$133,282[1]
CLP$112,198,212
Website:Official website

The president of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile (Spanish; Castilian: Presidente de la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile) is the highest authority of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile. The office was established in 1811 by the First National Congress of Chile.

It is third on the presidential line of succession after the minister of the interior and public security and the president of the Senate of Chile (Constitution, Art. 29).

The office is currently held by Vlado Mirosevic of the Liberal Party (PL). He was elected on 7 November 2022.[2] Karol Cariola's term as President of the Chamber of Deputies will then take place, after which the remaining three presidencies will be shared between Miguel Ángel Calisto (DC), Yovana Ahumada (PDG) and the Broad Front (FA). Likewise, the first and second vice-presidencies were assigned to people who are members of the PR, FA, PS, PC, DC and PPD.

Election

The directive board of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile is composed of a president, a first vice president and a second vice president. They are elected by an absolute majority in a secret ballot.[3]

The president and Vice presidents of the chamber can be reelected.

In case of a resignation from office by the president of the Chamber, if accepted by the Chamber of Deputies, new elections will be held on a congressional session forty five hours after the position was left vacant.

History

See main article: National Congress of Chile and History of Chile.

Patria Vieja (1810–1814)

See also: Patria Vieja and Chilean War of Independence.

The first president of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile was Juan Antonio Ovalle,[4] a lawyer and landowner who had previously served as procurator of Santiago. He was elected as deputy for Santiago with 343 votes and appointed president of the unicameral First National Congress of Chile. He held office for 16 days before being replaced by Martín Calvo Encalada[5] who had been serving as deputy for Curicó.

On September 4, 1811, revolutionary José Miguel Carrera, with the support of his siblings, led a successful coup d'état with the goal of establishing a more radical government.[6] Joaquín Larraín,[7] a co-conspirator of the coup, was appointed new president of the chamber of deputies as congress went on to pass several reforms.[8] [9]

Relations between José Miguel Carrera and other co-conspirators rapidly worsened which led the Carrera family to carry out a second coup d'état on November 15. Congress continued operating until December 2 when Carrera ordered its dissolution.[10]

Congress was reinstated in 1812, being composed solely by the Senate of Chile which would cease to exist in 1814 following the Chilean defeat at the Battle of Rancagua.[11]

Patria Nueva (1817–1823)

See also: Patria Nueva.

Supreme Director Bernardo O'Higgins reinstated congress in 1818 as a unicameral legislative body composed by the Senate of Chile.[12] A bicameral system was stablished in 1822 following the creation of a new constitution,[13] the new legislative body was composed of a Senate and a Chamber of Deputies. The bicameral system could not implemented due to the political turmoil in the country following the resignation and self-exile of O'Higgins on January 28, 1823.[14]

A new constitution was drafted in 1823 during the government of Supreme Director Ramón Freire which stablished a unicameral legislative body formed by the Senate of Chile.[15]

Chilean Civil War of 1891

See main article: Chilean Civil War of 1891.

By 1891, several disputes between the executive and legislative branches led to an uprising by Congress with the goal of deposing the liberal government in power.[16]

President of the Chamber Ramón Barros Luco was one of signatories of the act of destitution of President José Manuel Balmaceda, which instigated the Chilean Navy to rebel against the government in support of the Congressist uprising.[17]

Barros Luco was a member of the Revolutionary Junta of Iquique which administered parts of the country that were occupied by the Congressist band during the civil war. Following the congressist victory, Barros Luco participated in another government junta which oversaw parliamentary and municipal elections.

Military dictatorship (1973–1990)

See also: 1973 Chilean coup d'état and Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990).

Congress was dissolved following the 1973 coup d'état that ousted President Salvador Allende.[18] A military junta led by commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army general Augusto Pinochet was stablished.

Luis Pareto served as the last president of the Chamber of Deputies prior to the dissolution of Congress. He was a proponent of the August 23, 1973 accord which accused the Allende administration of seizing power with the goal of establishing a totalitarian government contrary to the democratic values of the Chilean constitution.[19]

Presidential Republic (1990–present)

See also: Chilean transition to democracy.

Congress was reinstated in March 1990 during the Chilean transition to democracy. Presidential and Parliamentary elections were held in December 1989.

María Maluenda, a human rights advocate and former ambassador to Vietnam,[20] served as provisional president of the Chamber of Deputies during its inaugural session before the election of José Antonio Viera-Gallo.

In 2008, President of the Chamber Juan Bustos died of liver cancer.[21] Following his death, President Michelle Bachelet declared three days of national mourning.[22] His duties were surrogated to First Vice President of the Chamber Guillermo Ceroni who served as provisional president for a week until the election of Francisco Encina.

In November 2019 several deputies requested then-President of the Chamber Iván Flores to resign following his decision to suspend activities on a day during the ongoing 2019–2020 Chilean protests which they deemed as damaging to the public image of Congress.[23] Later that month, Flores' office in Valparaíso was attacked by protestors who threw rocks at the building.[24]

In April 2020 Diego Paulsen became the youngest person to hold the position at 32 years old.[25]

Role

The president's principal duty is to preside over the Chamber and maintain order. In case of disarray, the president may request attendees to leave, as well as call for assistance from Carabineros with the purpose of maintaining or re-establishing order in the Chamber.

The president of the Chamber has the capacity to declare the inadmissibility of bills or constitutional reforms that infringe Art. 65 of the Constitution of Chile[26] which grants exclusive capability to the president of the Republic to propose constitutional reforms that alter the current political, administrative or fiscal divisions of the country.

Form of address

See also: Forms of address in Chile.

The president of the Chamber of Deputies is given the title "His Excellency" which is only used formally or in official documents.[27] The title "The Honorable" is given to all members of the Chamber of Deputies, including its president.[28]

The president should be referred to in third person like the rest of the members of the Chamber.

Presidents of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile

Presidential Republic (1990–present)

No.PortraitName
(Birth–Death)
Term of officeParty
1María Maluenda
(1920–2011)
11 March 199011 March 1990Party for Democracy
2José Antonio Viera-Gallo
(born 1943)
11 March 199021 July 1993Party for Democracy
3Jorge Molina Valdivieso
(born 1932)
21 July 199311 March 1994Party for Democracy
4Jorge Schaulsohn
(born 1952)
11 March 19943 November 1994Party for Democracy
5Vicente Sota
(1924–2017)
3 November 199414 March 1995Party for Democracy
6Jaime Estévez
(born 1946)
14 March 199519 November 1996Socialist Party
7Gutenberg Martínez
(born 1950)
19 November 199611 March 1999Christian Democratic Party
8Carlos Montes
(born 1946)
11 March 199922 March 2000Socialist Party
9Víctor Barrueto
(born 1953)
22 March 20003 March 2001Party for Democracy
10Luis Pareto
(1928-2022)
3 March 200111 March 2002Christian Democratic Party
11Adriana Muñoz
(born 1948)
11 March 200213 March 2003Party for Democracy
12Isabel Allende Bussi
(born 1945)
13 March 200316 March 2004Socialist Party
13Pablo Lorenzini
(born 1949)
16 March 20046 January 2005Christian Democratic Party
14Gabriel Ascencio
(born 1953)
6 January 200511 March 2006Christian Democratic Party
15Antonio Leal
(1950-2021)
11 March 200620 March 2007Party for Democracy
16Patricio Walker
(born 1969)
20 March 200713 March 2008Christian Democratic Party
17Juan Bustos
(1935–2008)
13 March 20087 August 2008Socialist Party
18Guillermo Ceroni
(born 1946)
7 August 200814 August 2008Party for Democracy
19Francisco Encina
(born 1943)
14 August 200818 March 2009Socialist Party
20Rodrigo Álvarez
(born 1966)
18 March 200911 March 2010Independent Democratic Union
21Alejandra Sepúlveda
(born 1965)
11 March 201015 March 2011Independent Regionalist Party
22Patricio Melero
(born 1956)
15 March 201120 March 2012Independent Democratic Union
23Nicolás Monckeberg
(born 1973)
20 March 20123 April 2013National Renewal
24Edmundo Eluchans
(born 1950)
3 April 201311 March 2014Independent Democratic Union
25Aldo Cornejo
(born 1955)
11 March 201417 March 2015Christian Democratic Party
26Marco Antonio Núñez
(born 1966)
17 March 201522 March 2016Party for Democracy
27Osvaldo Andrade
(born 1953)
22 March 201622 March 2017Socialist Party
28Fidel Espinoza
(born 1970)
22 March 201711 March 2018Socialist Party
29Maya Fernández
(born 1971)
11 March 201819 March 2019Socialist Party
30Iván Flores
(born 1955)
19 March 20197 April 2020Christian Democratic Party
31Diego Paulsen
(born 1987)
7 April 202011 March 2022National Renewal
32Raúl Soto
(born 1987)
11 March 20227 November 2022Party for Democracy
33Vlado Mirosevic
(born 1987)
7 November 202224 July 2023Liberal Party
34Ricardo Cifuentes
(born 1962)
24 July 202315 April 2024Christian Democratic Party
35Karol Cariola
(born 1987)
15 April 2024IncumbentCommunist Party of Chile

Timeline

Presidential Republic (1990–present)

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ¿Cuánto le cuesta al Estado un parlamentario? . www.latercera.com . 24 October 2019 . 12 April 2020 .
  2. Web site: The PPD Raúl Soto will assume presidency of the Chamber of Deputies . . 11 March 2022 . 11 March 2022.
  3. Web site: Mesa Directiva, Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de la República de Chile . www.camara.cl . 2020 . 13 April 2020 .
  4. Web site: Juan Antonio Ovalle – Reseñas Biográficas . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 22 April 2020.
  5. Web site: Martín Calvo Encalada Recabarren – Reseñas Biográficas . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 22 April 2020.
  6. Web site: Diario Militar de José Miguel Carrera: Capítulo II. 4 de Septiembre de 1811 – 2 de Diciembre de 1811 . es.wikisource.org . 20 July 2007 . 22 April 2020.
  7. Web site: Joaquín Larraín Salas – Reseñas Biográficas . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 23 April 2020.
  8. Web site: El Congreso Nacional y sus edificios (1811–1823) . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 26 April 2020.
  9. Web site: La abolición de la esclavitud negra en Chile . www.memoriachilena.gob.cl . 2020 . 26 April 2020.
  10. Web site: Disolución del congreso: LXXXV – Documentos relativos a la disolución del congreso, en 2 de December de 1811 . es.wikisource.org . 21 April 2017 . 27 April 2020.
  11. Web site: Antecedentes históricos del senado . www.senado.cl . 27 March 2014 . 27 April 2020.
  12. Web site: Constituciones políticas – Proyecto de Constitución Provisoria para el Estado de Chile . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 27 April 2020.
  13. Web site: Constituciones políticas – Constitución Política del Estado de Chile (1822) . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 27 April 2020.
  14. Web site: La construcción del Estado republicano (1823–1831) . www.memoriachilena.gob.cl . 2020 . 27 April 2020.
  15. Web site: Constituciones políticas – Constitución Política del Estado de Chile (1823) . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 27 April 2020.
  16. Web site: La Guerra Civil de 1891 . www.memoriachilena.gob.cl . 2020 . 10 June 2020.
  17. Web site: José Manuel Balmaceda (1840–1891) . www.memoriachilena.gob.cl . 2020 . 10 June 2020.
  18. Web site: El Congreso Nacional y sus edificios (1973–1990) . www.bcn.cl . 2020 . 30 April 2020.
  19. Chamber of Deputies of Chile . 23 August 1973 . Acuerdo de la Cámara de Diputados sobre el grave quebrantamiento del orden constitucional y legal de la República . Santiago, Chile . 2 . 1 . 27 May 2020.
  20. Web site: María Maluenda (1920–2011) . www.memoriachilena.gob.cl . 2020 . 30 April 2020.
  21. Web site: Murió presidente de la Cámara de Diputados, Juan Bustos . www.emol.com . 7 August 2008 . 30 April 2020.
  22. Web site: Gobierno decreta tres días de duelo nacional y funerales de Estado por el fallecimiento de Juan Bustos . www.latercera.com . 7 August 2008 . 30 April 2020.
  23. News: Pérez Vallejos . Ricardo . Diputados piden la renuncia del presidente de la cámara por suspender actividades . . Santiago, Chile . Spanish . 12 November 2019 . 22 May 2020.
  24. News: Caro . I. . Leiva . M. . Apedrean y quiebran ventana de oficina del presidente de la Cámara de Diputados . . Santiago, Chile . Spanish . 26 November 2019 . 26 May 2020.
  25. Web site: Amante del campo, deportista y alegre: Diego Paulsen, el inesperado nuevo pdte. de la Cámara que tiene 32 años . www.chvnoticias.cl . 8 April 2020 . 30 April 2020.
  26. Ley Orgánica Constitucional del Congreso Nacional. 18918 . Spanish. February 5, 1990. 15. 9-10.
  27. Reglamento Cámara de Diputados de Chile. Spanish. August 1, 2019. 53. 27.
  28. Reglamento Cámara de Diputados de Chile. Spanish. August 1, 2019. 83. 39.