Pedro Opitz Velásquez

Pedro Opitz Velásquez (7 May 1898 – 20 April 1977) was a Chilean lawyer and politician affiliated with the Radical Party. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies between 1933 and 1945, and as Senator of the Republic for Tarapacá and Antofagasta from 1945 to 1953.

Biography Opitz Velásquez was born in Río Bueno on 7 May 1898, the son of José Opitz and Griselda Velásquez.

He married María Teresa de la Barra Muñoz.

Education and professional career He completed his primary and secondary education at the German School of Río Bueno, the Salesian Commercial Institute, the Liceo Fiscal of Valdivia, and the Internado Nacional Barros Arana in Santiago. He later studied law at the University of Chile, qualifying as a lawyer in 1921. His undergraduate thesis was titled La constitución de la personalidad natural ante nuestro Derecho Civil.

He served as inspector of the Internado Nacional Barros Arana and as secretary of the Intendencies of Chiloé (1926), Colchagua (1927–1928), O'Higgins (1928–1929) and Antofagasta (1929–1932).

Political career A long-standing member of the Radical Party, Opitz Velásquez rose to the position of Secretary-General of the party's National Board.

He was elected Deputy for Tocopilla, El Loa, Antofagasta and Taltal for the 1933–1937 term, serving on the Standing Committee on Government Interior and as a member of the Radical Parliamentary Committee. He was re-elected in 1937 and again in 1941, participating in the Special Committee on Agricultural Exports, the Joint Budget Committee, and the Standing Committees on Foreign Relations, Finance, Economy and Commerce.

In 1940, he served as president of the National Airline of Chile (LAN).

He was elected Senator of the Republic for Tarapacá and Antofagasta for the 1945–1953 term. During his tenure, he served on the Standing Committees on Foreign Relations; Constitution, Legislation and Justice; and Labour and Social Welfare.

Other activities He was a founder of the Industrial Mining Development Institute of Tarapacá and Antofagasta, and served as director of Cemento El Melón, the Society of Mines and Fertilizers, the Río Negro Coal Company, and the Marble Exploitation Company of Calama.

Death Pedro Opitz Velásquez died in Santiago on 20 April 1977, at the age of 78.