Marcelo Santana
Marcelo Santana | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2025. | |
| Governor of Aysén Region | |
| Assumed office January 6, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Omar Muñoz Sierra (acting) |
| Mayor of Río Ibáñez | |
| In office December 6, 2016 – October 25, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Emilio Alarcón |
| Succeeded by | Marcelo Jélvez Cárdenas |
| Regional Councilor of Aysén | |
| In office March 11, 2014 – August 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marcelo Santana Vargas July 24, 1980 |
| Party | Independent Democratic Union |
| Education | Master's degree in Local Development (Metropolitan University of Technology) |
| Alma mater | University of La Frontera |
| Occupation | Environmental engineer, politician |
Marcelo Orlando Santana Vargas (born July 24, 1980, in Coyhaique) is a Chilean environmental engineer and politician.[1] He has served as Governor of Aysén Region since January 6, 2025.[2]
Biography
Santana completed his higher education at the University of La Frontera, where he earned a degree in environmental engineering.[3]
He later obtained a master's degree in Local Development from the Metropolitan University of Technology between 2015 and 2017. In addition, he holds a postgraduate diploma in Organizational Leadership from the University of Development (2018) and a diploma in Public Management from the University of La Frontera (2014).[3]
Public and political career
Santana began his career in public administration as municipal administrator of the commune of Río Ibáñez, a position he held between November 2008 and May 2010.[3] Subsequently, from March 2010 to March 2014, he served as regional director of the Subsecretariat for Regional Development and Administrative Affairs.[4]
In electoral politics, he made his debut in the 2013 Chilean regional council elections as a candidate for the Independent Democratic Union in General Carrera Province. He was elected regional councilor for the Aysén Region, obtaining 32.68% of the valid votes.[5]
In the 2016 Chilean municipal elections, Santana ran for mayor of Río Ibáñez and was elected with 63.47% of the vote. He was reelected in the 2021 Chilean municipal elections, increasing his support to 69.61%.[5]
On October 25, 2023, he resigned from his position as mayor to pursue a candidacy for governor of the Aysén Region.[6]
In June 2024, he participated in the Chile Vamos primary elections for regional governor, winning the nomination with 52.80% of the vote.[7]
In the 2024 Chilean regional elections, Santana was elected governor of Aysén in the first round, defeating incumbent governor Andrea Macías.[8]
Electoral history
| Year | Election | Constituency | Coalition | Party | Votes | % | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Regional council[5] | General Carrera Province | Alliance | UDI | 1,019 | 32.68 | Elected |
| 2016 | Mayor[5] | Río Ibáñez | Chile Vamos | 1,173 | 63.47 | ||
| 2021 | Mayor[9] | 1,088 | 69.61 | Reelected | |||
| 2024 | Primary (Governor)[7] | Aysén Region | 4,360 | 52.80 | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | Governor (first round)[8] | 33,883 | 54.37 | Elected |
References
- ^ "Quiénes son los gobernadores regionales electos". Mala Espina (in Spanish). November 25, 2024. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ "Marcelo Santana Vargas asumió como gobernador regional de Aysén". Radio Santa María (in Spanish). January 7, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b c "Marcelo Santana Vargas". Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ "Marcelo Santana renuncia al cargo de Alcalde de Río Ibáñez". Radio Las Nieves (in Spanish). October 25, 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2026.
- ^ a b c d "Marcelo Orlando Santana Vargas". DecideChile. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ "Marcelo Santana resigns as Mayor of Río Ibáñez to pursue new challenges in Aysén". Canal 11 (in Spanish). October 25, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ a b "Results of the 2024 Mayoral and Gubernatorial Primaries". Emol (in Spanish). Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ a b "Results of the 2024 Regional and Municipal Elections". Emol (in Spanish). Retrieved January 13, 2026.
- ^ Emol.com. "Resultados de elecciones para la Convención Constitucional, Municipales y Gobernadores 2021 | – Emol.com". www.emol.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-02-01.