Enrique van Rysselberghe Varela

Enrique van Rysselberghe Varela (4 April 1937 – 21 January 2013) was a Chilean architect, businessman and right-wing politician. He was deputy for his hometown between 1998 and 2002.

Biography He was the son of Enrique van Rysselberghe Martínez, mayor of Concepción in the 1970s and a descendant of François van Rysselberghe, and of Julieta Varela Santa María, descendant of President Domingo Santa María (1881–1886). He studied architecture at the Catholic University and later created several companies, including Arenas Bío-Bío.

A Pinochetist like his father, he joined the conservative Independent Democratic Union (UDI), becoming regional president.

He married María Norma Herrera Caire, with whom he had five children: Jacqueline (senator for the 12th District, Biobío Costa, intendant of the Biobío Region, mayor of Concepción), Michelle, Karen, Enrique (councilor for Concepción, deputy for the 44th District and senator for Biobío) and Cristián. These problems caused his withdrawal from politics.

He died in a car accident at kilometer 20 of Route Q-57, which connects the towns of Cabrero and Yungay, in the center-south area, on 21 January 2013, at the age of 75.