Cristián Menchaca

Cristián Enrique Menchaca Pinochet (born 13 March 1963) is a Chilean farmer and politician who serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile. He also was mayor of Longaví.

In January 2025, Menchaca was proposed as a candidate for deputy in the 18th District, covering communes such as Cauquenes, Chanco, Colbún, Linares, Longaví, Parral, Pelluhue, Retiro, San Javier, Villa Alegre and Yerbas Buenas.

He was elected in November 2025. He is the son of Jorge Menchaca Salgado and Rosa Pinochet Arellano.

He has developed his professional career as a farmer in the Maule Region.

Political career He began his political career as a councillor of the Municipality of Longaví between 1996 and 2000, elected on a quota of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI).

He later served as mayor of the same commune for four terms: 2000–2004, 2008–2012, 2016–2021, and 2021–2024. In 2013, he was elected regional councillor of the Maule Regional Government.

On 16 November 2025, he was elected deputy for the 18th District of the Maule Region (Cauquenes, Chanco, Colbún, Linares, Longaví, Parral, Pelluhue, Retiro, San Javier, Villa Alegre, Yerbas Buenas), as an independent candidate on a quota of the Republican Party of Chile within the Cambio por Chile coalition. He obtained 32,102 votes, corresponding to 13.45% of the total votes cast.