Patricio Pinilla
Chilean politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Patricio Alfonso Pinilla Valencia (born 3 March 1969) is a Chilean lawyer and politician affiliated with the Christian Democratic Party. He serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, representing the 21st District for the 2026–2030 term.[1][2]
Patricio Pinilla | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2026 | |
| Constituency | 21st District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 3 March 1969 Los Ángeles, Chile |
| Party | Christian Democratic |
| Alma mater | University of Concepción (LL.B) |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Pinilla was born in Los Ángeles to a family of modest means: his father Alfonso worked as a mechanical turner and his mother Brunilda as a homemaker.[3]
He studied law at the University of Concepción and worked as a lawyer in the regional labour inspection sector for over two decades. He also served as a regional councilor (CORE) and later as municipal councillor in Los Ángeles.[3]
Biography
He was born in Los Ángeles on 3 March 1969, the son of Alfonso Pinilla, a lathe mechanic who worked for more than 60 years at Venthur Hnos., and Brunilda Valencia, a homemaker. He is the third of four siblings. He is married and has two daughters.[4]
He completed his primary education at the former School No. 6 of Los Ángeles, and his secondary education at the Liceo de Hombres A-59 in the same city. He studied law at the University of Concepción, where he qualified as a lawyer, and later obtained a master's degree in labour law.[4]
He has developed his professional career in both the public and private sectors. He worked for several years as a legal adviser and litigator in private cases. In 2003, he joined the Provincial Labour Inspectorate of Biobío as a lawyer, and served as Provincial Labour Inspector and Head of the office until 2025.[4]
In academia, since 2007 he taught labour law at the law school of the Universidad Santo Tomás, Los Ángeles campus.[4]
Political career
He is a member of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC). He began his political and social involvement at a young age in parish youth groups, particularly at the Hospital Chapel of Los Ángeles, later becoming a leader of the diocesan youth ministry in the 1990s. In 1987, he joined the Christian Democratic Youth, maintaining his affiliation with the party thereafter.
Within his party, he held various positions, including youth leader, communal leader, provincial president, and regional vice president in Biobío. He also developed a trade union career, serving as a leader of the Association of Labour Directorate Officials (ANFUNTCH), and in 2009 was elected provincial president of the National Association of Public Employees (ANEF) in his region.
He served as a regional councillor of the Biobío Region between 2005 and 2016, being re-elected twice for the Biobío Province. He was later elected councillor for the commune of Los Ángeles for the 2021–2024 term with the highest vote share. Although re-elected in 2024, he did not assume office in order to comply with legal requirements to run for Congress in 2025.
On 16 November 2025, he was elected deputy for the 21st District of the Biobío Region (Alto Biobío, Antuco, Arauco, Cabrero, Cañete, Contulmo, Curanilahue, Laja, Lebu, Los Álamos, Los Ángeles, Lota, Mulchén, Nacimiento, Negrete, Quilaco, Quilleco, San Rosendo, Santa Bárbara, Tirúa, Tucapel, and Yumbel), representing the PDC within the Unity for Chile coalition, for the 2026–2030 term. He obtained 20,035 votes, corresponding to 5.13% of the valid votes cast.