Pedro Opaso Cousiño

Pedro Opaso Cousiño (14 May 1911 – 11 September 1969) was a Chilean lawyer, agriculturalist, and politician affiliated with the Liberal Party.

He served as Deputy (1937–1949) and Senator (1949–1957) of the Republic.

Biography He was the son of former Senator and acting President Pedro Opaso Letelier and Sara Cousiño Talavera.

Educated at the Sacred Hearts School of Santiago, he later entered the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Faculty of Law, graduating as a lawyer in 1933 with a thesis titled «Recurso de inconstitucionalidad».

He practiced law in Santiago and Talca, and managed agricultural activities at his estate Panguilemu, near Talca. Opaso served as founder and organizer of «Interam», director of the Central Bank of Chile, general manager of the Salitrera Company of Iquique, and president of the mining companies Cerro Negro and Tamaya.

He was a member of the National Agriculture Society, the Club de La Unión, and the Talca Club.

Political career A member and later National Vice President of the Liberal Party, he was first elected Deputy for the 14th Departmental Group (Linares, Loncomilla and Parral) for 1937–1941.

He served on the Permanent Committee on Agriculture and Colonization and participated in the Investigative Committee on the distribution of aid to victims of the 1939 Chillán earthquake.

Re-elected for 1941–1945, he joined the Committees on Constitution, Legislation and Justice, Education, and Finance. He served a third consecutive term (1945–1949), participating in the Committees on Foreign Relations and Economy and Trade.

In 1949 he was elected Senator for the 6th Provincial Group (Curicó, Talca, Linares and Maule) for 1949–1957. He served on the Committees on Government, Agriculture and Colonization, and Rules.

On 22 February 1950, together with Senator Hernán Videla Lira, he declared the Senate seat of Pablo Neruda –Neftalí Reyes Basoalto– vacant for prolonged absence abroad; the seat was later filled by Radomiro Tomic on 11 July 1950. He represented the Senate on the Council of the Social Security Service.

Opaso died in Santiago on 11 September 1969 at the age of 58.