Edgardo Barrueto


Edgardo Alejandro Barrueto Reeve was a Chilean former carabinero, farmer and conservative-leaning politician. He served as a member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile for two consecutive terms, then as a Senator, and later as Chile's ambassador to Costa Rica under President Eduardo Frei Montalva.

Early life and family

Barrueto was born in Arauco to Bernardo Barrueto Molinet and Adriana del Carmen Reeves Mendoza. His uncle was politician Darío Barrueto Molinet, his cousin Héctor Barrueto, and his grandson Víctor Barrueto served as a deputy and Intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region. He studied at the Seminary in Concepción and then entered the Carabineros de Chile academy, serving as an officer until 1936, when he retired to work in agriculture.
He married María Luisa Fauré Silva and, in a second marriage, Inés Martínez Martínez; he had seven children.

Professional and civic activity

Barrueto managed the El Hualli San Luis farm near Cajón, Temuco, focusing on dairy and crops. He was a member of the Temuco Agricultural Development Society and the local Dairy Cooperative, and also belonged to the Society of Retired Law-Enforcement Officers, the Temuco Social Club, and several sports and charitable associations.

Political career

Barrueto began in local government as a councillor for Temuco and later acting mayor.
In the 1949 election he won a seat as an independent Agrarian candidate for the 21st Departmental Group for 1949–1953, serving on the Permanent Commission of Agriculture and Colonization and the Special Commission on the Peasantry. He was re-elected for 1953–1957, remaining on Agriculture and Colonization.
In 1957 he joined the Agrarian Labor Party and was elected senator for the 8th Provincial Group for 1957–1965. In the Senate he served on the Permanent Commissions of Public Works and of Mining, as well as the Special Commission on Credit for Agricultural Mechanization, and was part of the PAL parliamentary committee. He later left the PAL and, in 1962, joined the Liberal Party.
After leaving the Senate in 1965, President Eduardo Frei Montalva appointed him Chilean ambassador to Costa Rica, a post he held until 1967.
Barrueto died in Santiago on 12 October 2005, aged 98.