Gerardo Espinoza Carrillo

Gerardo Espinoza Carrillo (23 July 1926 – 10 October 2001) was a Chilean history teacher, lawyer and politician. He served as Deputy for the Province of Concepción between 1969 and 1973 and as Minister of the Interior under President Salvador Allende in 1973, until his removal by a constitutional accusation.

Biography Espinoza was the son of a Chilean Navy officer and Pilar Carrillo Pastor, a member of the Spanish colony in Chile. He also had a half-brother who was a petty officer in the Chilean Navy.

He studied at the Colegio Inmaculada in Talcahuano, the French Fathers’ School in Concepción, and in high schools in Talcahuano and Concepción. He earned his bachelor’s degree in letters with a mention in history, and entered the Law School of the University of Concepción, graduating in 1954. He later completed his law degree at the University of Barcelona in Spain.

Political career He was elected regidor in 1956, serving until 1969. In the 1969 elections, he was elected Deputy for the Province of Concepción, serving from 1969 to 1973 in the National Congress.

On 27 March 1973, he was appointed Minister of the Interior by President Salvador Allende. His tenure lasted until 19 July 1973, when he was removed from office after an impeachment was approved, due to his responsibility in the raid and confiscation of equipment from Canal 6 of the University of Chile, which had broadcast following the workers’ occupation of Canal 9.

Exile After the military coup, Espinoza went into exile in Mexico. Little is known about this stage, other than that he was assisted in leaving Chile.

He died in Santiago on 10 October 2001.