Rubén Hurtado

He was born in Valparaíso on 11 July 1921, the son of Nabor Hurtado and Ema O'Ryan.

He married Lidia Cotroneo, with whom he had six children: Lidia María, Rubén, María Eugenia, Yolanda, Ana María, and Sandra. In a second marriage to María Marta Díaz Navas he had three more children: Óscar Fernando, Carlos Patricio, and María Verónica.

He pursued his primary education at the Liceo de Viña del Mar and completed secondary studies at the Colegio Salesiano in Santiago.

Hurtado began his political and union activities in 1944 when he joined the Sindicato Industrial de Viña, becoming its president. In 1949, he founded the Confederación Nacional de Sindicatos, which grouped 160 institutions, serving as its first president. In October 1953, he founded and presided over the Federación Nacional de Sindicatos de la Industria Azucarera.

In 1950 he was elected regidor of Viña del Mar, serving until 1953. That same year, he joined the Movimiento Nacional Ibañista and was elected deputy for the 6th Departmental District (Valparaíso and Quillota) for the 1953–1957 term. He served as a member of the Parliamentary Committee of the Unión Nacional de Independientes (1953–1954) and of the Acción Renovadora de Chile (1953–1954).

In 1956 he was Chilean workers’ representative to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva.

In 1957 he was re-elected deputy, this time representing the National Democratic Party (PADENA) for the 1957–1961 term. He served on the Permanent Commissions of Public Education, Labor and Social Legislation, and on the Special Investigative Commission of the Events of April 1957. He was a member of the National Parliamentary Committee between 1957 and 1958.

In 1961 he was re-elected deputy for PADENA for the 1961–1965 term. He acted as substitute member of the Permanent Commission of Interior Government and served on the Permanent Commission of Public Education.

In 1965 he was again re-elected deputy, this time representing the Christian Democratic Party, for the 1965–1969 term. He served on the Permanent Commission of Roads and Public Works and was counselor of the Housing Corporation (CORVI) representing the Chamber of Deputies.

He died in Viña del Mar on 1 August 1995. After his death, a posthumous tribute was held in the Chamber of Deputies.^[1]