Gerardo Varela

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Varela and the second or maternal family name is Alfonso.

Gerardo Varela
Official portrait (2018)
Minister of Education
In office 11 March 2018 – 9 August 2018
President	Sebastián Piñera
Preceded by	Adriana Delpiano
Succeeded by	Marcela Cubillos[1]
Personal details
Born	(1963-06-15) 15 June 1963 (age 61) Santiago, Chile
Political party	Close to centre-right
Spouse	Elena Barros
Children	Four
Parent	Esperanza Alfonso (mother)
Relatives	Pedro Enrique Alfonso (grandfather)
Alma mater	University of Chile (BA)
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Lawyer

Gerardo Victorino Varela Alfonso (born 15 June 1963) is a Chilean politician and lawyer.

Political thought

In educational matters, he had expressed in different columns of rightist newspapers El Mercurio and El Líbero that «the Education is a right and also an economic good».[2]

Controversies

In April 2018, Varela referred to the subject of condoms, which he indicated that he personally bought them for his children and also that they needed more than three because «they were champions», wedge that was widely criticized by the public opinion.[3] Then, the next month ―and amid 2018 Chilean feminist protests— he referred to the harassment of women during a speech in the Senate, where he mentioned that them are «small humiliations».[4]

Personal life

He is grandson of Pedro Enrique Alfonso,[5] a politician from centre-right faction of the Chilean Radical Party who was candidate in 1952 presidential elections won by Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

References

1. "Las "Varelicosas" le pasaron la cuenta: Ministro Varela deja la cartera de Educación". La Tercera. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
2. "Nuevo jefe del Mineduc: La Educación es un derecho y también un bien económico". Radio Bío Bío. 23 January 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
3. ""Mis hijos son unos campeones": la desafortunada respuesta del Ministro Varela sobre educación sexual". La Tercera. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
4. ""Pequeñas humillaciones": La frase del ministro Varela sobre acoso a mujeres que desató críticas en el Congreso". Emol. 16 May 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
5. "Reinauguran el busto de Pedro Enrique Alfonso en la Alameda de Ovalle". El Observalotodo. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2021.

External links

• Gerardo Varela on Twitter