Marcelo Orlando Santana Vargas (born July 24, 1980, in Coyhaique) is a Chilean environmental engineer and politician. He has served as Governor of Aysén Region since January 6, 2025.
Biography Santana completed his higher education at the University of La Frontera, where he earned a degree in environmental engineering.
He later obtained a master's degree in Local Development from the Metropolitan University of Technology between 2015 and 2017. In addition, he holds a postgraduate diploma in Organizational Leadership from the University of Development (2018) and a diploma in Public Management from the University of La Frontera (2014).
Public and political career Santana began his career in public administration as municipal administrator of the commune of Río Ibáñez, a position he held between November 2008 and May 2010. Subsequently, from March 2010 to March 2014, he served as regional director of the Subsecretariat for Regional Development and Administrative Affairs.
In electoral politics, he made his debut in the 2013 Chilean regional council elections as a candidate for the Independent Democratic Union in General Carrera Province. He was elected regional councilor for the Aysén Region, obtaining 32.68% of the valid votes.
In the 2016 Chilean municipal elections, Santana ran for mayor of Río Ibáñez and was elected with 63.47% of the vote. He was reelected in the 2021 Chilean municipal elections, increasing his support to 69.61%.
On October 25, 2023, he resigned from his position as mayor to pursue a candidacy for governor of the Aysén Region.
In June 2024, he participated in the Chile Vamos primary elections for regional governor, winning the nomination with 52.80% of the vote.
In the 2024 Chilean regional elections, Santana was elected governor of Aysén in the first round, defeating incumbent governor Andrea Macías.
Electoral history Year Election Constituency Coalition Party Votes % Result 2013 Regional council General Carrera Province Alliance UDI 1,019 32.68 Elected 2016 Mayor Río Ibáñez Chile Vamos 1,173 63.47 2021 Mayor 1,088 69.61 Reelected 2024 Primary (Governor) Aysén Region 4,360 52.80 Nominated 2024 Governor (first round) 33,883 54.37 Elected
References
External links
Official website