René Benavides

René Benavides del Villar (born 30 December 1922) was a Chilean businessman, cooperative leader, and politician associated with the Agrarian Labor Party.

He served as a Deputy for the 4th Departmental Group ―La Serena, Coquimbo, Elqui, Ovalle, Combarbalá and Illapel― during the 1953–1957 legislative period.

Biography He was born in Valparaíso on 30 December 1922, the son of Maximiliano Benavides and Clara del Villar. He married María Feliú Segovia, and the couple had nine children.

He studied at the Seminary of La Serena and later at the German Lyceum of Santiago. He also completed special courses in Cooperativism. His professional career began at the insurance company *La Previsión*, and in 1945 he authored the Chilean response to an inter-American survey on production and trade conducted by the Inter-American Association of Production and Commerce.

Benavides went on to manage the Cardenal Caro Cooperative and serve as secretary of the Chilean Agricultural Sheep Farming Cooperative Ltd. He engaged in industrial, commercial, and mining activities, holding positions such as General Manager of Forestal Carampangue S.A. (1964), General Manager of Compañía Minera Tamaya (1967–1971), and General Manager of the Chilean Exporters Association (1974). He also served as Executive Secretary of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee and created the first cooperative supporting the Illapel Mining Development Plan.

Politically, he was first a member and later president of the National Action Party, before joining the Agrarian Labor Party in 1955, where he also served as president. He was elected Deputy for the 4th Departmental Group (La Serena, Coquimbo, Elqui, Ovalle, Combarbalá and Illapel) for the 1953–1957 term, serving on the Standing Committee on Medical-Social Assistance and Hygiene.

In addition to his political and professional work, Benavides was Secretary-General of the Young Catholic Action Association.