María José Gatica

María José Gatica Bertin (born 15 April 1984) is a Chilean political figure and businesswoman. She has represented the Los Ríos Region in the Senate since 2022, after previously serving as a regional councilor for the same region between 2014 and 2021. A member of the centre-right party Renovación Nacional (RN), she is known for her positions on public security, decentralization, and economic development in southern Chile.

Gatica studied business administration at the University of Los Lagos, and later pursued specialization in local governance and public management.

Her political career began with grassroots activism and party work in RN during the early 2010s. In 2013, she was elected regional councilor for Los Ríos Region, serving two terms (2014–2021), where she prioritized infrastructure, rural development, and improved healthcare access in isolated areas. In the 2021 Chilean general election, she won a seat in the Senate, becoming the first woman senator for her region.

Political career Gatica's political involvement began through the youth wing of Renovación Nacional and later as a party organizer in Los Ríos Region. Her work in regional development led her to run for the Regional Council of Los Ríos, winning with strong support in rural communes.

During her tenure as regional councilor (2014–2021), she became known for her advocacy in favor of decentralized investment, particularly in connectivity, drinking water projects, and education access.

She serves on the Senate commissions for Public Safety, Environment, and Decentralization, and is an active proponent of constitutional recognition for regional rights.