Pedro Poklepovic Novillo

Pedro Poklepovic Novillo (5 October 1906 – 9 September 1993) was a Chilean lawyer, businessman and liberal politician.

He served as Deputy and later Senator for Aconcagua and Valparaíso between 1937 and 1961.

Biography Family and early life He was born in Iquique on 5 October 1906, the son of Santiago Poklepovic Mazzola and Julia Novillo Ginés.

He married Doris Braun Page. He completed his studies at the Colegio de los Sagrados Corazones de Valparaíso, where he also undertook legal studies, receiving his law degree on 14 July 1931 with a thesis titled "Abandono de la nave y el flete" (Abandonment of the Ship and the Freight).

Professional and business career He practiced law in Valparaíso and became active in the Liberal Party, serving as a member of its board of directors and later as vice president.

Poklepovic held directorships in several major Chilean and Bolivian companies, including: Compañía Carbonífera de Lota Compañía de Seguros La Marítima Fundación Óscar y Elsa Braun Compañía Naviera Arauco Compañía Minera Huanchaca de Bolivia

He was also president of the Sociedad Explotadora de Tierra del Fuego and played an important role in the Corporación de Ventas de Salitre y Yodo de Chile (COVENSA), the state entity regulating the nitrate and iodine industry.

Political career Poklepovic was first elected Deputy for the 6th Departmental District (Valparaíso, Casablanca, Quillota and Limache) for the 1937–1941 term, serving on the Finance and Foreign Relations Committees. He was reelected for 1941–1945, participating in the Committee on Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

He was later elected Senator for the 3rd Provincial District (Aconcagua and Valparaíso) for the 1945–1953 term, joining the Committees on Finance, Mining, and Industrial Development. Reelected for 1953–1961, he sat on the Committees on Foreign Relations, Commerce, and Constitution, Legislation and Justice.

Public and social activities He was president of the Reserve Officers’ Circle of the Coraceros Regiment; member of the Club de La Unión, the Valparaíso Sporting Club, the Granadilla Golf Club, and the Naval Country Club; and served as president of the Viña del Mar Club between 1947 and 1952.

Death After a long cardiac illness, he died in Santiago on 9 September 1993, aged 87.