Carlos Jeremías Gaete Gaete

Carlos Jeremías Gaete Gaete (1 November 1905 – 21 January 1991) was a Chilean mechanic, trade union leader and socialist politician. He served as a Member of the Chamber of Deputies between 1937 and 1945, representing the O’Higgins region, and later as Mayor of Rancagua from 1956 to 1960.

Biography Gaete Gaete was born in Paredones, Chile, on 1 November 1905, the son of José Gaete and Trinidad Gaete.

He studied at the Industrial School of Rancagua, qualifying as a mechanic. He worked as an industrial worker at the El Teniente Mine and later as a small merchant and agricultural producer in the San Francisco de Mostazal area.

He married Rebeca González in Rancagua in 1938.

Trade union activity Gaete Gaete was a prominent trade union leader in the mining and industrial sectors. He served as president of the Workers’ Union of the Braden Copper Company, president of the Federation of El Teniente Trade Unions, and president of the Provincial Federation of Trade Unions of O’Higgins. He also chaired the First Congress of Trade Union Unity.

Political career A member of the Socialist Party, Gaete Gaete became party secretary in Rancagua in 1932.

He was elected Deputy for the 9th Departmental Group —Rancagua, Caupolicán and San Vicente— for two consecutive terms (1937–1941 and 1941–1945). During his parliamentary career, he served on the standing committees on Constitution, Legislation and Justice; Education; National Defense; and Labour and Social Legislation.

In the post-parliamentary period, he served as Mayor of Rancagua between 1956 and 1960.