Marlene Pérez

Marlene Pérez Cartes (born 10 May 1973) is a Chilean politician who currently serves as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.

Family and early life She was born in Talcahuano on 10 May 1973, the daughter of Héctor Pérez Opazo and Delmira Cartes Aguilera.

She is the mother of three daughters.

Professional life She completed her secondary education at the José Manuel Balmaceda Adult High School in the commune of Concepción. She is a graduate in social work.

Professionally, she has worked as a radio and television communicator. She served as a radio host at Radio Femenina and Punto 7 in Concepción, as well as at El Conquistador, and at Canal 9 Bío Bío Televisión, where she hosted the programme Cuenta Conmigo. She has also worked as an advisor to the Agency for Sustainability and Climate Change (ASCC) in the Biobío Region.

Political career She began her public career as a social communicator and is politically close to the Independent Democratic Union (UDI).

Her candidacy for the position of regional councillor of the Biobío Region in 2017, as an independent candidate supported by the UDI for the 2018–2022 term, marked the beginning of her political career. She was elected with 19,596 votes, representing 8.32% of the valid votes cast. She resigned from the position on 25 October 2019 in order to participate in the municipal elections.

On 14 September 2020, she confirmed her candidacy for mayor of Concepción as an independent supported by the Independent Democratic Union, within the Chile Vamos coalition. In the election held on 15 and 16 May 2021, she obtained 17,827 votes, corresponding to 22.40% of the total valid votes, and was not elected.

Following her participation in the May 2021 municipal election, in August of that year she registered her candidacy for the Chamber of Deputies of Chile, as an independent within the Chile Podemos Más pact, representing the 20th electoral district (comprising the communes of Chiguayante, Concepción, Coronel, Florida, Hualpén, Hualqui, Penco, San Pedro de la Paz, Santa Juana, Talcahuano and Tomé), in the Biobío Region, for the 2022–2026 term. On 21 November, she was elected deputy with 18,510 votes, equivalent to 5.34% of the valid votes cast.