Sergio Merino Jarpa

Sergio Ariel Merino Jarpa (25 March 1924 – 8 April 2000) was a Chilean lawyer and politician, member of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC).^[1]

He completed his primary and secondary education at the Internado Nacional Barros Arana. After finishing his schooling, he entered the University of Chile, where he graduated as a lawyer in 1950 with the thesis «El Comisariato y algunas de sus intervenciones». He was sworn in before the Supreme Court of Justice in 1951.

He practiced law in Temuco, specializing in labor law, beginning in 1958.

He began his political activities in 1943 when he joined the National Falange (FN), where he held the positions of secretary of the University National Falange and of the party's National Council. Later, he joined the Christian Democratic Party, serving as communal and provincial president of Temuco and the Cautín Province. He was also a provincial councilor and a candidate for alderman.

From 1945 to 1959, he worked as an official of DIRINCO and as an officer of the Commissariat of Subsistence and Prices until 1958. On 5 November 1964, he was appointed Intendant of Cautín, a position he held until 1968, during which he was responsible for organizing the city's Development Corporation.^[2]

In 1968, he was elected deputy for the 21st Departmental Constituency of Imperial, Temuco, Villarrica, Pitrufquén, and Lautaro, in the by-election held on 7 July following the death of parliamentarian Venacio Coñoepán. He joined the Chamber on 14 August of that year. In the 1969 parliamentary elections, he was reelected for the same constituency.

In the 1973 parliamentary elections, he was again reelected as deputy for the 21st Departmental Constituency. He was a member of the Committee on Constitution, Legislation and Justice. However, he was unable to continue in office due to the coup d’état and the consequent dissolution of the National Congress.

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