José Bernales Navarro

José Bernales Navarro (18 March 1898 – 23 August 1966) was a Chilean lawyer and politician affiliated with the Democratic Party.

He served as a Deputy during the XXXIX Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile (1941–1945), representing the Departmental Group of Concepción, Tomé, Yumbel, Coronel and Talcahuano.

Early life and career Bernales was born in Santiago to José Bernales Castro and María Mercedes Navarro Castro.

He received his primary education at the Colegio de los Padres Escolapios and his secondary studies at the Liceo Enrique Molina Garmendia|Lyceum of Concepción.

He pursued legal studies at the Fiscal Course of Laws of Concepción —today the Faculty of Law of the University of Concepción— where he completed his training as a lawyer.

He worked in various private enterprises in central-southern Chile, particularly around Los Ángeles, where he also engaged in agricultural activities.

He married Brunilda Varela Sanhueza, with whom he had four children.

Political career A prominent member of the Democratic Party, Bernales served as president of the party's regional organisation in Concepción.

He was elected Municipal Councillor (Regidor) of Concepción before being elected Deputy for the 1941–1945 term. During his time in Congress, he served on the Standing Committee on Education.

Bernales later served as Provincial Intendant of Arauco (1949–1952) and subsequently as Director of the Department of Prisons in 1953.