Joaquín Lavín | |
---|---|
Minister of Social Development of Chile | |
In office October 13, 2011 – June 13, 2013 |
|
President | Sebastián Piñera |
Succeeded by | Bruno Baranda |
Minister of Education of Chile | |
In office March 11, 2010 – July 18, 2011 |
|
President | Sebastián Piñera |
Preceded by | Mónica Jiménez |
Succeeded by | Felipe Bulnes |
Mayor of Santiago | |
In office December 6, 2000 – December 6, 2004 |
|
Preceded by | Jaime Ravinet |
Succeeded by | Raúl Alcaíno |
Mayor of Las Condes | |
In office September 26, 1992 – June 11, 1999 |
|
Preceded by | Eduardo Jara |
Succeeded by | Carlos Larraín |
Personal details | |
Born |
Santiago, Chile |
October 23, 1953
Nationality | Chilean |
Political party | Independent Democratic Union |
Spouse(s) | María Estela León |
Children | 7 |
Alma mater |
Universidad Católica de Chile University of Chicago |
Occupation | Economist |
Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Website | Ministry of Education of Chile |
Joaquín José Lavín Infante (born 23 October 1953) is a Chilean politician and economist. He is a member of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI) party and former mayor of Santiago and Las Condes municipalities of capital Santiago. He ran for president twice in 1999 and 2005, losing both times.
Lavín was born in Santiago and earned a master's degree in economics from the University of Chicago. He wrote a book, Una revolución silenciosa ("A Quiet Revolution"), in support of General Augusto Pinochet's economic policies. He was also political editor of the conservative Chilean daily El Mercurio. Afterwards, in 1992, Lavín was elected mayor of Las Condes, a stronghold of the right, with 31% of the vote and reelected in 1997 with 78% of the vote.
Lavín was the presidential candidate for the UDI-National Renewal coalition Alliance for Chile in the 1999 election. He eventually lost to PS/PPD candidate Ricardo Lagos in a runoff by 200,000 votes. Lavín again represented UDI in the 2005 presidential election, but ended in third place with 23.23% of the vote, due the presence of another right-wing candidate in the race, Sebastián Piñera, who made it to the runoff election with 25.41% of the vote.