Political career
His political career began as a leader of the Association of Truck Owners of Iquique,serving as its president in 1970. [2]
In 1973,he served as president of the Provincial Federation of Truck Owners of Tarapacá. During the government of the Popular Unity coalition (1970–1973),he actively participated in the truck owners' strike against the government. In 1976,he was appointed Secretary General of the Confederation of Truck Owners of Chile,a position he held until 1982,when he became president of the organization. [2]
Between 1985 and 1989,he served as vice president,representing Chile,of the Latin American Transport Association (ATALAC). [2]
On 24 October 1985,he was appointed a member of the Economic and Social Council. [2]
In the first parliamentary elections of 1989,he ran as an independent candidate for the Senate representing the 1st Senatorial Constituency,TarapacáRegion,for the 1990–1994 term,within the Democracy and Progress pact. He obtained the second-highest vote total in the constituency with 42,079 votes,equivalent to 26.02% of the valid votes cast. [2]
On 13 March 1990,two days after being sworn in as Senator,he joined the National Renewal party,assuming the position of vice president of its Political Commission. [2]
In the parliamentary elections held on 11 December 1993,he was re-elected Senator for the 1st Senatorial Constituency,TarapacáRegion,for the 1994–1998 term,within the Union for the Progress of Chile pact. He obtained 41,328 votes,corresponding to 25.54% of the valid votes cast. [2]
In 2001,he sought a third re-election for the 1st Senatorial Constituency,TarapacáRegion,for the 2002–2010 term,but was defeated by his running mate Jaime Orpis. In that election,he obtained 24,844 votes,equivalent to 16.08% of the valid votes cast. [2]
In the parliamentary elections of 2005,he ran for the Chamber of Deputies representing the 2nd District of the TarapacáRegion,on behalf of the Independent Democratic Union,for the 2006–2010 term. He obtained 16,493 votes,corresponding to 18.06% of the total votes,but was not elected. In 2009,he ran again,representing National Renewal,for a Senate seat in the 1st Senatorial Constituency,TarapacáRegion. He obtained 12,348 votes,equivalent to 7.33%,and was not elected. [2]
