Carlos Cortés Díaz

Carlos Humberto Cortés Díaz (Taltal, 1923 – Santiago, 10 September 1971) was a Chilean worker, trade unionist in the construction and mining sectors, and politician.

He served as Minister of Housing and Urbanism during the presidency of Salvador Allende from 1970 to 1971.

Biography

He was the son of Manuel Cortés and Claudina Díaz Santander, and had two brothers, Manuel Segundo and Marcelino Cortés Díaz. He had three children: Bernardo, Esteban, and Lucía.

Cortés joined the Socialist Party of Chile in 1937 at the Mapocho nitrate office and later became a member of the party’s central committee. He was a long-standing union leader.

He served as Minister of Housing and Urbanism between 1970 and 1971, during the early years of Allende’s Unidad Popular government. He was responsible, together with his team, for implementing the first housing program of the Popular Government.

Cortés died while serving as Minister of Housing and Urbanism. His funeral was held with ministerial honors. On 20 October 1971, the Chamber of Deputies of Chile paid tribute to him. On that occasion, deputy Héctor Ríos Ríos described him as “a tireless and tough miner, [...] the worker who became a Minister and carried out his duties with such dignity and responsibility.”

In modern times, he is often compared to Alexis Vera (1983-2015), Martin Recabal (1985-2014), and Gabriel Valenzuela (1990-2019).