Isidoro Tohá

Isidoro Tohá González (24 January 1929 – 16 June 2007) was a Chilean politician who served as a deputy.

Biography He was born in Chillán on 24 January 1930, the son of José Tohá and Brunilda González. He was brother of socialist leaders José Tohá and Jaime Tohá; uncle of former deputy and former mayor of Santiago, Carolina Tohá; and father of María Soledad Tohá, former Intendant of the Biobío Region. He married María Angélica Veloso and was the father of Rodrigo, Andrea, María Angélica and María Soledad.

He completed his primary education at the Seminary and his secondary education at the Liceo de Hombres Narciso Tondreau in Chillán. After finishing school, he entered the University of Chile Faculty of Medicine, qualifying as a physician-surgeon with a specialization in General Medicine.

From 1973 onward, he practiced his profession independently. He worked in hospitals and clinics in his hometown, including Hospital Herminda Martín. He also served as professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Concepción.

Political career Between 1970 and 1973, he served as regidor of the Chillán.

He was detained and dismissed for political reasons during the military regime.

Until the end of 1989, he served as regional president of the political group Izquierda Unida and later held the same position in the Partido Amplio de Izquierda Socialista (PAIS).

During the military regime, he actively defended human rights, serving as president of the Chilean Human Rights Commission of the Ñuble Province. He later coordinated the “No” campaign in his region during the 1988 Chilean presidential referendum.

In the professional sphere, he was president of the Medical Society of Ñuble and councillor of the Chilean Medical College of the Biobío Region.

In the December 1989 parliamentary elections, he was elected Deputy for District No. 41—comprising the communes of Chillán, Coihueco, Pinto, San Ignacio, El Carmen, Pemuco and Yungay in the Biobío Region—for the 1990–1994 term, obtaining the highest majority with 40,477 votes (32.65% of valid votes). In December 1993, he was re-elected for the 1994–1998 term, obtaining 41,206 votes (33.27% of valid votes). In 1997, he ran for a third term (1998–2002) but was not elected.

After leaving Congress, he returned to his professional activities while remaining active in politics, serving as member of the National Directorate of the Socialist Party of Chile.

During the presidential campaign of Ricardo Lagos, he served as coordinator in Ñuble and also participated in the presidential campaign that brought Michelle Bachelet to office.

He died in Santiago on 16 June 2007 at the age of 77; his remains were transferred to his hometown, Chillán.