Jorge Saelzer

Jorge Adolfo Saelzer Balde (10 January 1902 – 18 March 1984) was a Chilean veterinarian, farmer, guild leader and politician of German descent. He served as Deputy for the 21st Departmental Group and later as Minister of Agriculture during the first cabinet of President Jorge Alessandri.

He studied at Colegio Carlos Anwandter in Valdivia and later at the Internado Nacional Barros Arana in Santiago.

Professional career Between 1922 and 1924, he completed his professional training in several German regions, including Mecklenburg, East Frisia, Lower Rhine, the Elbe basin, Silesia and East Prussia. In the 1949 parliamentary elections, he was elected Deputy for the 21st Departmental Group (Temuco, Lautaro, Imperial, Pitrufquén and Villarrica), serving from 1949 to 1953. He sat on the Committees on National Defense and on Agriculture and Colonization.

On 3 November 1958, President Jorge Alessandri appointed him Minister of Agriculture, a post he held until 15 September 1960, during a period marked by intense debate surrounding agrarian reform.

He ran unsuccessfully for the Senate in the 1965 parliamentary elections, representing the Liberal Party in the 8th Provincial Group (Bío-Bío, Malleco, Cautín).

He also served as president of the National Federation of Chilean Equestrian Sports. He died in Loncoche on 18 March 1984 at age 82.