Hugo Gálvez
Hugo Gálvez Gajardo (18 March 1920 – 22 March 1995) was a Chilean lawyer, academic, businessman, and right-wing politician. He served twice as Chile's Minister of Labor: first under President Jorge Alessandri (1960–1963), and later during the military government of General Augusto Pinochet (1983–1984).
He was also mayor of San Bernardo in two non-consecutive terms and later became the founding rector of the Universidad Central de Chile.
Early life and education
Gálvez was born in Valparaíso to Víctor Gálvez Bonmaison and Teresa Gajardo Ariagada. He studied law at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating in 1946 with the thesis «De la terminación del mandato civil» (“On the Termination of Civil Mandate”). He also pursued studies in philosophy at the Pontifical Seminary of Santiago.
He married Amelia Carvallo Andrade, with whom he had seven children: Amelia, Eduardo Víctor, Hugo Gabriel, Jorge Fernando, Ruby, Teresa Marina, and Víctor Hugo.
Political career
After working privately as a lawyer, Gálvez entered local politics in San Bernardo, serving as a councillor (regidor) from 1947 to 1950. He was elected mayor of the commune in two separate periods: 1950–1953 and 1956–1959.
As a member of the Liberal Party, he was appointed Minister of Labour and Social Welfare by President Alessandri on 15 September 1960. In 1963 he was expelled from the party for supporting Alessandri's potential re-election bid for the 1964 presidential race.
In 1983, during the military regime, he returned to the same ministry at the request of General Pinochet. His administration enacted a reform establishing a five-year minimum for severance-pay calculations.
Professional career
After leaving the ministry in 1984, Gálvez held several public-sector positions: legal officer at the Ministry of Justice, counsel for the Commission of International Exchange, and legal counsel for both the Central Bank of Chile and the Banco del Estado de Chile.
He was also involved in journalism as editor and owner of the local newspaper El Debate. He taught at both the University of Chile and the Pontifical Catholic University.
In 1982 he founded the Universidad Central de Chile, becoming its rector in 1985. The university's Extension Centre is named in his honour. From 1992 to 1994 he served as president of the Corporation of Private Universities of Chile.
He was declared “Illustrious Son” of San Bernardo in 1994.
Death
Gálvez died in Santiago on 22 March 1995 at the age of 75 from cardiovascular complications.