Mario Hamuy Berr

Mario Hamuy Berr (10 March 1926 – 6 March 2011) was a Chilean politician who served as a deputy.

Biography He was born in Santiago on 10 March 1926, the son of Pedro Hamuy and Agabia Berr. He married María Eugenia Wackenhut, with whom he had four children, including the noted Chilean astronomer Mario Hamuy. In a second marriage, he married María Angélica Muñoz Castro.

He completed his secondary education at the Liceo Valentín Letelier and pursued higher studies at the School of Economics and Commerce of the University of Chile.

In 1947, he joined the metallurgical company Berr y Nally Ltda., and in 1950 became organizing manager and partner of “Mainco”, distributors of construction materials.

Political career He began his political activity as president of the Student Center of the Liceo Valentín Letelier. In 1950, he joined the Agrarian Labor Party (PAL), serving as president of its youth branch in six communes and as provincial president in 1951. He later became national secretary and head of press and propaganda during the 1952 presidential election in which Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was elected.

During his first term in the Chamber of Deputies, he represented the Agrarian Labor Party. He later joined the Christian Democratic Party, serving as provincial president of Santiago Centro and president of the Metropolitan Region branch of the party.

Upon assuming office as regidor of the Santiago, serving between 1953 and 1956, he became one of the youngest regidores to hold that responsibility. He served as president of the Municipal Finance Commission and, in 1954, traveled to São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre in the course of his municipal duties.

In 1964, he worked as campaign manager in Santiago during the presidential candidacy of Eduardo Frei Montalva.

From 1986 onward, he participated in the rearticulation of opposition political parties to the military dictatorship, contributing to the process that led to the restoration of democracy.

During the presidency of Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, he was appointed consul in Beirut, Lebanon.

He died on 6 March 2011 in Santiago.