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| Intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region | |
|---|---|
| Name | Intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region |
| Native name | Intendente de la Región Metropolitana de Santiago |
| Department | Presidency of the Republic of Chile |
| Seat | La Moneda Palace, Santiago, Palacio de La Moneda |
| Appointer | President of Chile |
| Formation | 1974 |
| Inaugural | José Manuel Parada |
| Abolished | 2021 (replaced by Regional Governor) |
Intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region The Intendant of the Santiago Metropolitan Region was the chief executive appointed by the President of Chile to administer the Región Metropolitana de Santiago including Santiago, Providencia, Las Condes, and Puente Alto. The office coordinated regional agencies such as the Ministerio del Interior de Chile, Ministerio de Vivienda y Urbanismo (Chile), Ministerio de Salud (Chile), and interfaced with national institutions including the Corte Suprema de Justicia de Chile and the Congreso Nacional de Chile. The position existed alongside municipal mayors like those of Santiago and Ñuñoa, and was replaced in 2021 by an elected Regional Governor under constitutional reforms.
The Intendant oversaw implementation of national policy in the Región Metropolitana de Santiago working with agencies such as the Carabineros de Chile, Policía de Investigaciones de Chile, Servicio Nacional de Salud (Chile), and the Servicio de Impuestos Internos for coordination on public safety, health, taxation, and infrastructure projects. Responsibilities included supervising regional execution of programs from the Ministerio de Obras Públicas (Chile), Ministerio de Desarrollo Social y Familia (Chile), Ministerio de Transportes y Telecomunicaciones, and liaising with state-owned enterprises like Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado and Metro de Santiago. The Intendant also represented the President of Chile in ceremonial contexts with institutions such as the Banco Central de Chile, Universidad de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and international partners like the Organization of American States.
The Intendant was appointed by the President of Chile following nomination processes influenced by political parties including Partido por la Democracia, Renovación Nacional, Unión Demócrata Independiente, Partido Socialista de Chile, and Partido Comunista de Chile. Terms were coextensive with the presidential term, subject to removal by the President of Chile; appointments often reflected alliances with coalitions such as the Concertación or Chile Vamos. The office functioned in coordination with the Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública, regional councils like the Consejo Regional (Chile), and national oversight from bodies such as the Contraloría General de la República.
The office originated during the Military dictatorship of Chile (1973–1990) under the GoÌ£verno de facto and institutionalized in administrative reforms of the Pinochet regime with ties to the Law of Regionalization and later post-dictatorship codifications in the Constitution of Chile (1980). Democratic transitions saw intendants appointed under presidents including Patricio Aylwin, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Ricardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, and Gabriel Boric before reforms culminating in the 2017-2021 decentralization process influenced by the 2019–2020 Chilean protests and constitutional debates. The replacement by an elected Regional Governor (Chile) followed legislative measures debated in the Congreso Nacional de Chile and approved during the administration of Sebastián Piñera and subsequent administrations.
The Intendant exercised executive powers delegated by the President of Chile to coordinate ministries like the Ministerio de Economía, Fomento y Turismo (Chile), manage emergency responses with Onemi, and direct regional planning with agencies such as the Servicio de Evaluación Ambiental (Chile) and Ministerio de Agricultura (Chile). The position reported to the Ministerio del Interior y Seguridad Pública and worked with oversight institutions including the Corte Suprema de Justicia de Chile for judicial matters and the Contraloría General de la República for fiscal accountability. In times of public order crises the Intendant coordinated with Carabineros de Chile, the Ministerio de Defensa Nacional (Chile), and national security advisors in La Moneda Palace.
Notable holders included appointees from various administrations such as José Manuel Parada, regional administrators during Patricio Aylwin and Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle eras, technocrats from Centrales de Abastecimiento (Chile), and political figures aligned with Concertación and Chile Vamos. Several served under presidents Ricardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet, Sebastián Piñera, and transitional administrations. The final incumbents served during debates in the Congreso Nacional de Chile and the constitutional process following the 2019–2020 Chilean protests.
Reform proposals to replace appointed intendants with elected regional authorities were championed by actors including the Partido por la Democracia, Partido Socialista de Chile, Partido Demócrata Cristiano (Chile), and civil society organizations such as Movimiento Autonomista and Colectivo de Constituyentes. Legislative initiatives in the Senado de Chile and Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados de Chile culminated in laws creating elected Regional Governor (Chile) positions and reforming the Consejo Regional (Chile), following recommendations of commissions involving the Contraloría General de la República and international advisers like the United Nations Development Programme.
Several intendants became focal points in controversies involving interactions with institutions such as Carabineros de Chile, Ministerio Público de Chile, and the Contraloría General de la República over public order responses, procurement tied to Ministerio de Obras Públicas (Chile), and urban policy affecting Metro de Santiago expansions and housing initiatives with the Ministerio de Vivienda y Urbanismo (Chile). Controversies intersected with national events like the 2019–2020 Chilean protests, debates in the Congreso Nacional de Chile, and scrutiny from media outlets including La Tercera, El Mercurio, and Radio Cooperativa.