Gustavo Lorca Rojas

Gustavo Lorca Rojas (9 June 1921 – 30 October 2013) was a Chilean lawyer, academic, and politician who held various public offices during the mid-20th century.^[1][2]

He served as Mayor of Viña del Mar^[3] from 1958 to 1964 and was later elected as a deputy to the National Congress for three consecutive terms. His work in municipal administration and legislation focused on urban infrastructure, public health, and local development. As mayor, he promoted projects aimed at strengthening coastal protection and improving city planning, which had long-term implications for tourism.^[3]

In Congress, Lorca introduced and supported several bills that facilitated municipal access to development funding, including Law No. 13,364—commonly referred to as the “Lorca Law”. His legislative activity included proposals related to sanitation, public works, and the establishment of healthcare facilities in Valparaíso. He also participated in discussions on national defense and constitutional matters.

Following the dissolution of Congress after the 1973 military coup, Lorca remained active in politics, contributing to constitutional drafting efforts and participating in the formation of Renovación Nacional during the transition to democracy.

He studied law at the University of Chile and was sworn in as a lawyer in 1944 after presenting his thesis on municipal administration. His early professional life included teaching Constitutional History, Roman Law, and Economic Law at various universities, including his alma mater, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, and the Adolfo Ibáñez University.

He also worked as a legal advisor to the Municipality of Viña del Mar and served in various legal and arbitration roles throughout his career.

Lorca began his public life in the 1940s as a student leader, eventually joining the Liberal Party, where he rose to the position of vice president. In 1958, President Jorge Alessandri appointed him Mayor of Viña del Mar, a role he held until 1964. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the development of infrastructure projects and the modernization of the city, particularly focusing on coastal protection. He was elected city councilor in 1963 and co-authored Law No. 13,364—known as the “Lorca Law”—which empowered municipalities like Viña del Mar and Valparaíso to obtain development loans.

In 1965, Lorca was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, representing the 6th Departmental Group (Quillota, Valparaíso, and Easter Island), and was reelected in 1969 and 1973. His legislative agenda was deeply focused on local development, sanitation, and healthcare. He submitted over 50 bills as author or co-author and gave nearly 300 floor speeches, addressing critical national and regional issues. One of his major campaigns was for the construction of a modern hospital in Valparaíso to serve a growing population lacking adequate healthcare facilities.

Lorca also played a role in national defense and constitutional affairs, serving on related congressional commissions. In May 1973, he was elected First Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies. However, his legislative career was abruptly interrupted by the military coup of September 11, 1973, after which Congress was dissolved. Despite this, he continued contributing to Chilean political life, participating in the drafting of the Chilean Constitution of 1980 and helping to found the center-right party Renovación Nacional (RN) in 1987.

Until his death in 2013 in Viña del Mar,^[4] Lorca remained a respected figure in Chilean public life. He served as regional president of RN in Valparaíso Region and participated in its Political Commission and Supreme Tribunal. His legal, academic, and political contributions—especially his commitment to local development and public service—left a lasting legacy in the region and in Chile’s institutional history.

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