Luis Minchel

Luis Minchel Balladares (1 June 1919 – November 2007) was a Chilean civil constructor, entrepreneur, and politician affiliated with the Democratic Party and later with the Party for Democracy (PPD).

He served as Deputy of the Republic for the 13th Departmental Grouping – Cauquenes, Constitución, and Chanco – between 1953 and 1965.

Biography Born in Chanco on 1 June 1919, he was the son of David Minchel Moya and Margarita Balladares Montecinos. He married María Inés Verdugo Domínguez, and later, in Tocopilla, on 25 July 1959, married Nevenka Mandakovic Loza, with whom he had three daughters.

He completed his studies at the Internado Nacional Barros Arana and at the School of Civil Construction of the University of Chile, from which he graduated as a civil constructor.

Minchel began his career as a journalist, working for the newspapers La Reforma and El Deber of Constitución between 1932 and 1940. From 1945 onward, he dedicated himself to the construction sector and later became a timber industry entrepreneur (1977–1988) and a fruit exporter. He also served as Director of Prisons, member of the board of the National Airline (LAN Chile), and counselor of the National Pension Fund for Public Employees and Journalists (1957).

Political career A long-standing member of the Democratic Party, Minchel served as its vice president, acting president, and General Secretary, and was also Vice President of the national leadership of the PPD in 1992. He was also active in the Democratic University Group (GUD) in 1942.

In 1953, he was elected Deputy for the 13th Departmental Grouping “Cauquenes, Constitución, and Chanco” and reelected in 1957 and 1961, serving three consecutive legislative terms until 1965. During his parliamentary career, he sat on the Permanent Commissions of Public Works, Internal Police and Regulations, and participated in several mixed budget committees (1953–1956, 1962–1963). Between February 1957 and August 1960, he held the post of First Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies.

He also took part in numerous investigative and special commissions, including those on housing, public budgets, the irregularities of the Port of Arica (1956–1957), and constitutional accusations (1962).

Other activities Beyond politics, Minchel was a member of the Club de Fútbol Universidad de Chile and participated in professional and civic organizations linked to construction and social welfare.

He died in November 2007.