Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle Explained

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]

Early life

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.

Political career

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.

Presidency

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.

Return to the 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]

Styles, honours and arms

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

National honours

Foreign honours

Arms

External links

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Notes and References

  1. https://elpais.com/chile/2023-11-23/el-expresidente-eduardo-frei-a-favor-de-la-nueva-constitucion-de-chile-no-es-un-voto-por-la-extrema-derecha.html El expresidente Eduardo Frei, a favor de la nueva Constitución de Chile: “No es un voto por la extrema derecha”
  2. Book: South America, Central America and the Caribbean 2002 . 2001. Psychology Press. 9781857431216. en.
  3. http://www.clubmadrid.org/en/miembro/eduardo_frei_ruiz_tagle >
  4. News: La estrecha relación de Menem con Chile:Sus opositores decían que era "prochileno". February 14, 2021. February 15, 2021. Emol. El Mercurio. Spanish.
  5. News: Swiss citizenship for Chile's Frei criticised. 14 January 2010. swissinfo. 19 February 2010.
  6. News: Wird ein Schweizer Präsident von Chile?. de. 9 January 2010. Berner Zeitung. 9 January 2010. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231253/http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/schweiz/standard/Wird-ein-Schweizer-Praesident-von-Chile/story/25956883. dead.
  7. News: ¿Un suizo, el próximo Presidente de Chile?. Swissinfo. 12 January 2010. es. 13 January 2010.
  8. News: Schweizer Pass für Eduardo Frei. 12 January 2010. Neue Zürcher Zeitung. de. 13 January 2010.
  9. Web site: El candidado chileno Frei tiene desde hace dos meses la nacionalidad suiza. https://archive.today/20130124172830/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hsAaDvwb3GJPPZE-Xe-usL1DJsMg. dead. 24 January 2013. 9 January 2010. Agence France-Presse. es. 13 January 2010.
  10. News: PREVIEW-Chile right seen ousting left in first since Pinochet . Reuters . 2009-12-09.
  11. News: Chile's Frei concedes defeat to Pinera in vote . Reuters . Simon . Gardner . 2010-01-17.
  12. China Daily Billionaire Sebastian Pinera wins Chile presidency
  13. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran, Bintang, dan Pingat Persekutuan..
  14. https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1995/03/08/pdfs/A07726-07726.pdf Royal Decree 334/1995
  15. http://www.clubmadrid.org/ Club de Madrid
  16. Web site: Resolución N° 709/996. 2020-11-27. www.impo.com.uy.