Andrés Longton
Andrés Longton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile | |
| Assumed office 11 March 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Creation of the District |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 May 1982 Viña del Mar, Chile |
| Political party | Renovación Nacional |
| Parent(s) | Arturo Longton Amelia Herrera |
| Relatives | Arturo (brother) Alfonso de Urresti (cousin)[1] |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Lawyer |
Andrés Javier Longton Herrera (born 26 May 1982) is a Chilean lawyer, former reality TV contestant, and politician affiliated with the Renovación Nacional (National Renewal) party. He has served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies for District 6 of the Valparaíso Region since 2018 and was re-elected in 2021.
He first gained public recognition through his participation in the reality show Mundos Opuestos (lit. Opposite Worlds) in 2012, where he appeared alongside his brother Arturo Longton, achieving brief but intense media popularity.[2][3][4][5]
Later, he leveraged that visibility into a formal career in public service, returning to his legal profession and specializing in criminal law. One of his early political roles was as a legislative advisor for the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security during Sebastián Piñera's second administration.
Longton has stood out in Congress for his strong support for public order. He has championed reforms related to security, anti-drug efforts, and the strengthening of the Chilean national police (Carabineros), establishing himself as one of the most visible voices among the younger generation of Chile’s center-right.
Biography
Andrés Longton was born in Viña del Mar on May 26, 1982, the son of politician Arturo Longton Guerrero—former mayor of Quilpué and former member of Congress—and lawyer and regional governor Amelia Herrera Silva. He grew up in a family with a deep-rooted political tradition within Chile’s right-wing spectrum, which would later influence his public vocation.
He studied law at Andrés Bello National University, earning his law degree and practicing mainly in the field of criminal law. He worked in both the private sector and in public roles, most notably during Sebastián Piñera’s second term as part of the Ministry of the Interior, focusing on criminal legislation and citizen security policy.
Despite his legal background, he rose to public prominence in 2012 as a contestant on the reality TV show Mundos Opuestos, broadcast by Canal 13. This exposure made him a recognizable figure to the general public, a visibility he would later redirect into his political career.
Political Career
Longton officially entered politics as a member of Renovación Nacional (RN), a party with which his family has long been associated. In 2017, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the newly created District 6, which includes communes such as Quilpué, Villa Alemana, San Felipe, and Los Andes. In Congress, he has served on commissions focused on security, criminal law, and public order.
In 2016, Longton served as an official of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies, serving as an assistant attorney for the Permanent Committees.
During his first legislative term (2018–2022), Longton promoted various bills aimed at combating drug trafficking, protecting the police, and strengthening the criminal justice system. He has been openly critical of sectors that, in his view, justify or downplay violence, particularly in the aftermath of the 2019 Chilean social unrest.
Re-elected in 2021 general elections with a strong vote count, he has solidified his place within RN as a firm voice on matters of law and order.
References
- ^ "Andrés Longton post". Instagram. 18 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2021-12-26. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ^ "Diputado Andrés Longton recordó su paso por el reality "Mundos Opuestos" en la franja por el Apruebo". ADN Radio Chile. 25 September 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "[VIDEO] Diputado Longton usa su paso por "Mundos Opuestos" en campaña para el Plebiscito". Canal 13. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ "Así lucen los hombres de Mundos Opuestos a 9 años del reality show". Canal 13. 8 June 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ Woo, Eduardo (3 September 2015). "Así luce el ex 'Mundos Opuestos' Andrés Longton como asesor legislativo en el Congreso". Radio Bío-Bío. Retrieved 12 November 2021.