Leopoldo Ortega

Leopoldo Segundo Ortega Rodríguez (1922–2002) was a Chilean physician and politician. A member of the Communist Party of Chile, he served as Deputy for the 26th Departamental Group during the XLVI Legislative Period (1969–1973).

Biography Ortega was born in Iquique on 20 January 1922, the son of Leopoldo Ortega Soto and Ester Rodríguez Zapata. He married Rinna Pérez Figueroa, with whom he had five daughters, and later Sandra Rossi.

He studied medicine at the University of Chile, graduating as a physician in 1947.

He practiced in Cobquecura and later at the Hospital of Chile Chico, where he worked until 1969. He also served as director of the Seguro Obrero clinic and combined his medical career with activities in public health planning.

Political career Ortega joined the Communist Party of Chile in 1958. He was elected regidor of Chile Chico in 1961 and mayor of the same commune between 1963 and 1967.

In the 1969 elections, he was elected Deputy for the 26th Departamental Group. He served until 15 May 1973, taking part in the debates of the XLVI Legislative Period.

After the 1973 coup d’état, Ortega went into exile in Algeria and Mozambique, where he advised their health ministries. In 1984 he was detained in Chile for his role in human rights advocacy and was subsequently expelled to Brazil.

He returned to Chile in 1989 and later ran unsuccessfully for parliamentary office. Ortega died in June 2002 at the age of 80.