Carlos Villalobos

Carlos Villalobos Sepúlveda (born 25 October 1936) is a Chilean politician who served as deputy.

Political career He joined the Socialist Party of Chile in 1952, where he held various responsibilities, including regional union secretary in 1962, sectional secretary in Linares in 1969, and organizational secretary of the Regional Committee in 1970.

As a union leader, he founded and directed multiple labor organizations, such as the Carpenters’ Union of Constitución, the Construction Workers’ Union of Linares, and the Maule Basin Construction Workers’ Union. He was also active in the Central Workers’ Union (CUT), serving as provincial counselor and later as provincial general secretary in Linares.

He served as Governor of the Department of Parral in 1970 and labor coordinator of the Intendancy of Linares in 1971. He also played an important role in Salvador Allende’s presidential campaigns (1957, 1964, 1970) as a local and provincial organizer.

After the 1973 coup, he was imprisoned and exiled to Norway in 1976, where he remained until 1988, working as a correspondent for political journals in exile. Upon returning to Chile, he actively supported Patricio Aylwin’s 1989 presidential campaign and later coordinated efforts for laid-off workers. He was also involved in the first presidential campaign of Michelle Bachelet.

In local politics, he was a long-time community leader in Linares, presiding over neighborhood associations for several years. He was elected councilman of the Municipality of Linares (1992–1996; 2000–2002) and later served as mayor of Linares (2002–2004).