Daniel Farcas

Daniel Alejandro Farcas Guendelman (born 2 November 1963) is a Chilean politician who served as deputy from 2014 to 2018.

Farcas blocked a law proposed by Vlado Mirosevic to promote the use of free software by the government of Chile at the request of lobbyists hired by Microsoft, highlighting a potential conflict of interest and creating a scandal for Farcas.

Biography He was born in Santiago on 2 November 1963. He is the son of Adalberto Farcas Knapp and Clara Guendelman Israel. He is divorced and is the father of two daughters, Katia and Valeria.

He completed his primary and secondary education at the Hebrew Institute in Santiago. He later studied at the University of Chile, graduating as a public administrator and earning a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Professional career During the 1990s, he served as sales manager of the Guendelman department stores. In 1992, he received the President of the Republic Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies in Spain, specializing in Business Administration at the Institute for Executive Development in Madrid. He later completed a Ph.D. in Leadership in Higher Education at Capella University in the United States. He has undertaken postgraduate studies in finance and marketing in specialization programs on Public–Private Management and

Collaboration at the Institute for Public-Private Partnership in Washington, D.C. Between 2002 and 2010, he served as Vice President and Pro-Rector of the University of Arts, Sciences and Communication (UNIACC), and as Rector of the IACC Professional Institute. In 2009, he presided over the Corporation of Private Universities (CUP). From 2011 onward, he coordinated the Santiago Norte Citizen Network.

He has served as executive director, commercial adviser and manager of various companies, and has been a partner in Transportes Conferencia Ltda., Centrovet (Veterinary and Agricultural Center), Inversiones Kava Ltda., Farquímica Ltda., and Inmobiliaria Vertical S.A.

As a lecturer, he taught in the Public Officials Training Programme and the workshop «Total Quality» at the Faculty of Administrative Sciences of the SEK International University. He also taught the seminar «Design of Marketing Strategies in Public Services» at the School of Government and Administration of the Institute of Political Science of the University of Chile.

Political career During his university years, he served as Secretary General of the Student Federation of the University of Chile. He has been a member of the Party for Democracy since its founding in 1987.

Between 1994 and 1995, he served as adviser to the Cabinet of the Undersecretary of Public Works and as adviser to the General Manager of the Production Development Corporation (CORFO). During the government of President Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, he was appointed Director of the Division of Social Organizations (DOS) under the Ministry General Secretariat of Government.

Between 2000 and 2002, he served as National Director of the National Training and Employment Service (SENCE) during the government of President Ricardo Lagos. He was also director of the Antofagasta Water Services Company (ESMA) and of the Maule Water Services Company (MERVAL).

In 2005, he assumed the position of General Coordinator of the government programme of Michelle Bachelet during her presidential campaign. In August 2013, he was selected as candidate for Deputy for the 17th District in the primary elections of the Nueva Nayoría coalition.