Manuel Cantero Prado

Manuel Segundo Cantero Prado (7 November 1925 – 20 June 2010) was a Chilean civil engineer and Communist Party politician.

He was elected Deputy for the Sixth Departamental Group –Valparaíso, Easter Island and Quillota– for three consecutive terms from 1965 to 1973, representing the region of Valparaíso. His term ended following the military coup in September 1973.

Biography Born in Valparaíso, he was the son of Manuel Cantero and Amadora Prado. He married Cristina Arancibia Vargas in 1949 and had six children. As a civil engineer, he worked in a packaging factory and at Imprenta Universo, where he championed labor rights and participated actively in union efforts.

He entered political activity in 1945 through the Communist Youth of Chile and later held leadership roles within the Communist Party, including Secretary General in 1962 and membership in the Central Committee and Political Commission. He represented the party internationally in the USSR, Hungary, Cuba, Italy, and Uruguay.

After the 1973 coup, he went into hiding, eventually living in exile before returning to Chile and resuming clandestine political involvement.

During the 1973–1977 term, Cantero served on the Permanent Commissions for National Defense; Physical Education and Sports; and Interior Government, Administration and Rules. In previous terms, he participated in multiple standing and special commissions, contributing to laws such as Law No. 17,475 (public housing transfers) and reform to Law No. 15,722 concerning pension coverage.