Raúl Puga Monsalve

Luis Raúl Puga Monsalve (born 5 December 1891) was a Chilean lawyer and politician affiliated with the Democratic Party. He served as senator for the Seventh Provincial Grouping of Ñuble and Concepción during the 1933–1937 legislative period and later held several cabinet positions during the presidency of Pedro Aguirre Cerda.

Biography Puga was born in Arauco, Chile on 5 December 1891, the son of Manuel Puga and Griselda Monsalve. He married Rebeca Seguel, with whom he had two children.

He studied at the Seminario de Concepción and later pursued law at the University of Chile, qualifying as a lawyer on 6 July 1915. His thesis was titled Derechos del acreedor. La acción pauliana.

Professionally, he served as professor of Administrative Law in the Law Course of the Liceo de Concepción and practiced law independently in Concepción. He acted as legal counsel to the Compañía de Buques y Maderas, the Compañía Chilena de Teléfonos de Concepción, and as chief legal adviser of the Third Zone of the State Railways (EFE). He was also a lawyer of the Court of Appeals of Concepción.

Political and public career A member of the Democratic Party, Puga Monsalve was elected senator for the provinces of Ñuble and Concepción for the 1933–1937 legislative period. This four-year senatorial mandate formed part of the institutional adjustment following the political crisis of June 1932. During his term, he served on the Standing Committees on Constitution, Legislation, Justice and Regulations; on Labour and Social Welfare, which he chaired; and on the Budget Committee.

At the beginning of the administration of President Pedro Aguirre Cerda, he was appointed minister of justice, serving from 24 December 1938 to 10 June 1941. Concurrently, he served as acting minister of education from 12 to 28 June 1939. He was later appointed minister of agriculture from 10 June 1941 to 2 April 1942 and also served as acting minister of labor between 15 January and 4 February 1942. During his ministerial tenure, he focused particularly on the Child Protection Service and promoted the development of the agricultural and livestock sector.

Other activities Puga was an active member of the Colegio de Abogados de Concepción, serving as its secretary and treasurer. He acted as legal adviser and honorary president of eighteen workers’ societies in Concepción. He was also a member of the Club de Concepción and the University of Concepción.