Alejandro Bell Jara

Alejandro Bell Jara (28 April 1941 – 24 November 2013) was a Chilean economist and politician, first with the Popular Unitary Action Movement (MAPU) and later with the Socialist Party of Chile.

He served as Deputy for the 14th Departamental Group –Linares, Loncomilla and Parral– in 1973, until the military coup ended his term.

Biography Born in Santiago, the son of Santiago Bell Silva and Lucrecia Consuelo Jara Villouta. Married to Lily Montenegro Robertson with whom he had four children. He completed his secondary studies at Liceo Amunátegui, then studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and Letters, University of Chile. Later attended the London School of Economics and completed a postgraduate degree in Development Economics at the University of Cambridge (M.Phil., 1984).

He worked as an evaluator of European Union cooperation development projects. From 1999 to April 2002, he served as director of Zona Franca de Iquique S.A. (ZOFRI, S.A.) and in 2001 he directed the Salitre Museum Corporation.

Politically, he began in the MAPU and worked as an advisor for the National Women's Service (SERNAM). In 1996, he ran unsuccessfully as Socialist Party councilor candidate in La Reina. Later, he was appointed Regional Ministerial Secretary (seremi) of Finance for Tarapacá Region (2000–2002).

He died in Santiago on 24 November 2013.

Parliamentary work Elected Deputy for the 14th Departamental Group in the 1973–1977 term, he served on the Permanent Commissions on National Defense; Physical Education and Sports; and Housing and Urban Development.

His mandate was prematurely ended by the 11 September 1973 coup and the subsequent dissolution of Congress by Decree-Law 27 on 21 September.