The President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state

Head of State

A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...

 and the head of government

Head of government

Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...

 of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration. Although its role and significance has changed over the history of Chile

History of Chile

The territory of Chile has been populated since at least 2,000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to subdue and colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory became a colony from 1540 to 1818, when it gained independence from Spain...

, as well as its position and relations with other actors in the national political organization

Politics of Chile

The politics of Chile takes place in a framework of a presidential representative democratic republic, whereby the President of Chile is both head of state and head of government, and of a formal multi-party system that in practice behaves like a two-party one, due to binominalism. Executive power...

, it is one of the most prominent political figures. It is also considered one of the institutions that make up the "Historic Constitution of Chile", and it is essential to the country's political stability.

Under the current Constitution

Constitution of Chile

In its temporary dispositions, the document ordered the transition from the former military government, with Augusto Pinochet as President of the Republic, and the Legislative Power of the Military Junta , to a civil one, with a time frame of eight...

 (adopted in 1980), the President is elected to serve for a period of four years, with immediate re-election being prohibited. The shorter period (previously the term was six years) allows for parliamentary and presidential elections to be synchronized.
The official seat of the President of Chile is the La Moneda Palace in the capital Santiago

Santiago, Chile

Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...

.

List of heads of state of Chile (1810–present)

#	Picture	Name	Began office	Left office	Title(s)
		Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta	July 1810	18 September 1810	Royal Governor of Chile
		First Junta Government Junta of Chile (1810) Government Junta of the Kingdom of Chile , also known as the First Government Junta, was the organ established to rule Chile following the deposition and imprisonment of King Ferdinand VII by Napoleon Bonaparte...	18 September 1810	11 August 1811	President: Mateo de Toro Zambrano y Ureta Vice President: José Martínez de Aldunate Jose Martinez de Aldunate Bishop José Antonio Martínez de Aldunate y Garcés de Marcilla was Chilean Bishop and a member of the First Government Junta of Chile.... Members: Fernando Márquez de la Plata y Orozco Juan Martínez de Rozas Correa Ignacio de la Carrera y Cuevas Juan Enrique Rosales Fuentes Francisco Javier de Reina Secretary: José Gregorio Argomedo Montero del Águila José Gaspar Marín
		Second Junta Government Junta of Chile (August 1811) Government Junta of Chile , also known as the Executive Junta or the Second Government Junta, was the organ established to rule Chile following the convocatory of a National Congress.-Background:...  (Provisional Executive Authority	11 August 1811	4 September 1811	Members: Martín Calvo de Encalada y Recabarren Juan José Aldunate Larrain Francisco Javier del Solar Juan Miguel Benavente José Antonio Astorga Torres Manuel Joaquín de Valdivieso
		Third Junta (Executive Tribunal)	4 September 1811	15 November 1811	Members: Juan Martínez de Rozas Juan Martinez de Rozas Juan Martínez de Rozas Correa was the earliest leader in the Chilean struggle for independence.He was born at Mendoza in 1759, the son of Juan Martínez de Soto Rozas and María Prudencia Correa Villegas. In his early life he was a professor of law, theology and philosophy at Santiago... Martín Calvo de Encalada y Recabarren Juan Enrique Rosales Fuentes John Mackenna O'Reilly José Gaspar Marín y Esquivel
		Fourth Junta Government Junta of Chile (November 1811) Government Junta of Chile , also known as the Provisional Junta, was the political structure established to rule Chile following the Military Coup organized by Juan Martínez de Rozas and José Miguel Carrera...	15 November 1811	2 December 1811	Members: Juan Martínez de Rozas Juan Martinez de Rozas Juan Martínez de Rozas Correa was the earliest leader in the Chilean struggle for independence.He was born at Mendoza in 1759, the son of Juan Martínez de Soto Rozas and María Prudencia Correa Villegas. In his early life he was a professor of law, theology and philosophy at Santiago... José Miguel de la Carrera y Verdugo José Gaspar Marín y Esquivel Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme (Alternate Member)
		Fifth Junta Government Junta of Chile (December 1811) Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following a Military Coup organized by José Miguel Carrera. It lasted until replaced by the Superior Governmental Junta.-External links:*...	2 December 1811	7 March 1814	Members: José Miguel de la Carrera y Verdugo Juan José Aldunate Larrain José Antonio De la Cerda De Santiago Concha Manuel Rodríguez Erdoyza
		Antonio José De Irisarri Alonso	7 March 1814	14 March 1814	Interim Supreme Director
1		Francisco de la Lastra y de la Sotta	14 March 1814	23 July 1814	Supreme Director
		Sixth Junta	23 July 1814	2 October 1814	Members: José Miguel de la Carrera y Verdugo Julián Urivi Ribas Manuel Muñoz y Urzúa
From 1814 until 1817, Chile was reconquered by Spanish forces.
		Mariano Osorio Mariano Osorio Mariano de Osorio was a Spanish general and Governor of Chile, from 1814 to 1815.-Early career:Osorio was born in Seville, Spain. He joined the Spanish army and as many of his contemporaries, his military career began during the Spanish Peninsular War in 1808 as an artillery general, as well as...	2 October 1814	26 December 1815	Royal Governor of Chile
		Francisco Casimiro Marcó del Pont Díaz Ángel y Méndez	26 December 1815	12 February 1817	Royal Governor of Chile
Chilean patriots defeat the Spanish Empire Spanish Empire The Spanish Empire comprised territories and colonies administered directly by Spain in Europe, in America, Africa, Asia and Oceania. It originated during the Age of Exploration and was therefore one of the first global empires. At the time of Habsburgs, Spain reached the peak of its world power....  in Maipu.
2		Bernardo O'Higgins Riquelme	16 February 1817	28 January 1823	Supreme Director
		Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1823) Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the resignation of Supreme Director Bernardo O'Higgins...	28 January 1823	4 April 1823	Members: Agustín De Eyzaguirre Arechavala (President) José Miguel Infante y Rojas Fernando De Errázuriz y Martínez de Aldunate
3		Ramón Freire Serrano	4 April 1823	9 July 1826	Supreme Director
1		Manuel Blanco Encalada Manuel Blanco Encalada Manuel José Blanco y Calvo de Encalada was a Vice-Admiral in the Chilean Navy, a political figure, and Chile's first President .-Biography:...	9 July 1826	9 September 1826	President
		Agustín De Eyzaguirre Arechavala	9 September 1826	25 January 1827	Provisional President
2		Ramón Freire Serrano	25 January 1827	8 May 1827	President
		Francisco Antonio Pinto Díaz	8 May 1827	16 July 1829	Accidental President
		Francisco Ramón Vicuña y Larraín	16 July 1829	19 October 1829	President Delegate
3		Francisco Antonio Pinto Díaz	19 October 1829	2 November 1829	President
		Francisco Ramón Vicuña y Larraín	2 November 1829	7 December 1829	Acting President
		Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1829) Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the defeat of the Liberal army at the Battle of Ochagavía...	24 December 1829	18 February 1830	Members: José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla José Tomás Ovalle José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as provisional president of Chile.-Early life:...  (President) Isidoro de Errázuriz Aldunate José María Guzmán Ibáñez
		Francisco Ruiz-Tagle Portales	18 February 1830	31 March 1830	Provisional President
		José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla	1 April 1830	8 March 1831	Provisional President
		Fernando Errázuriz Aldunate	8 March 1831	31 March 1831	Provisional President
4		José Joaquín Prieto Vial	10 April 1831	18 September 1841	Provisional President (10 April 1831 – 18 September 1831) President (18 September 1831 – 18 September 1841)
5		Manuel Bulnes Prieto	18 September 1841	18 September 1851	President
6		Manuel Montt Torres	18 September 1851	18 September 1861	President
7		José Joaquín Pérez Mascayano	18 September 1861	18 September 1871	President
8		Federico Errázuriz Zañartu Federico Errázuriz Zañartu Federico Marcos del Rosario Errázuriz Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1871 and 1876. He was born in Santiago in 1825 and died there in 1877. Errázuriz was of Basque descent....	18 September 1871	18 September 1876	President
9		Aníbal Pinto Garmendia	18 September 1876	18 September 1881	President
10		Domingo Santa María González	18 September 1881	18 September 1886	President
11		José Manuel Balmaceda Fernández	18 September 1886	29 August 1891	President
		Manuel Baquedano González	29 August 1891	31 August 1891	Chief of Government
		Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1891) Revolutionary Junta of Iquique , was the political structure established to challenge the power of Chilean President José Manuel Balmaceda following the insurrection of the navy that started the Chilean Civil War...	31 August 1891	26 December 1891	Members: Jorge Montt Jorge Montt Jorge Montt Álvarez was vice-admiral of the Chilean Navy and president of Chile from 1891 to 1896.-Early life:...  (President) Waldo Silva Algüe Ramón Barros Luco Ramón Barros Luco Ramón Barros Luco was President of Chile between 1910 and 1915.Barros Luco was born in 1835 in Santiago, Barros Luco was son of Ramón Luis Barros Fernández and Dolores Luco Fernández de Leiva. He graduated from Law School in 1858...
12		Jorge Montt Álvarez	26 December 1891	18 September 1896	President
13		Federico Errázuriz Echaurren Federico Errázuriz Echaurren Federico Errázuriz Echaurren was a Chilean political figure. Born in Santiago, he served as President of Chile between 1896 and his death in 1901. Federico Errázuriz was of Basque descent.-Early life:...	18 September 1896	12 July 1901	President
		Aníbal Zañartu Aníbal Zañartu Aníbal Zañartu Zañartu was a Chilean political figure. He served several times as minister and as Vice President in 1901....	12 July 1901	18 September 1901	Acting President
14		Germán Riesco Germán Riesco Germán Riesco Errázuriz was a Chilean political figure, and he served as President of Chile between 1901 and 1906.-Early life:...	18 September 1901	18 September 1906	President
15		Pedro Montt Montt	18 September 1906	16 August 1910	President
		Elías Fernández Albano	16 August 1910	6 September 1910	Acting President
		Emiliano Figueroa Larraín	6 September 1910	23 December 1910	Acting President
16		Ramón Barros Luco Ramón Barros Luco Ramón Barros Luco was President of Chile between 1910 and 1915.Barros Luco was born in 1835 in Santiago, Barros Luco was son of Ramón Luis Barros Fernández and Dolores Luco Fernández de Leiva. He graduated from Law School in 1858...	23 December 1910	23 December 1915	President
17		Juan Luis Sanfuentes Andonaegui	23 December 1915	23 December 1920	President
18		Arturo Alessandri Palma	23 December 1920	11 September 1924	President
		Luis Altamirano Talavera	11 September 1924	23 January 1925	Chairman of the Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1924) Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to rule Chile following the military coup that overthrew President Arturo Alessandri...
		Pedro Dartnell Encina	23 January 1925	27 January 1925	Chairman of the Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1925) Government Junta of Chile , was the political structure established to restore power to President Arturo Alessandri, after he had been deposed in 1924. On January 23, 1925, a military movement of young officers, wrestled power from the previous September Junta...
		Arturo Alessandri Palma	27 January 1925	1 October 1925	President
		Luis Barros Borgoño Luis Barros Borgoño Luis Barros Borgoño was a Chilean politician who served as Vice President of Chile in 1925.Born in Santiago, he was son of Manuel Barros Arana and Eugenia Borgoño Vergara...	1 October 1925	23 December 1925	Acting President
19		Emiliano Figueroa Larraín	23 December 1925	10 May 1927	President
20		Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Carlos Ibáñez del Campo General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...	10 May 1927	26 July 1931	President
		Pedro Opazo Letelier	26 July 1931	27 July 1931	Provisional President
21		Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez	27 July 1931	4 June 1932	President
		Arturo Puga Osorio	4 June 1932	16 June 1932	Chairman of the Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1932) Government Junta of Chile , was a political structure established during the anarchy that followed the resignation of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo...
		Carlos Dávila Espinoza	16 June 1932	13 September 1932	Chairman of the Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1932) Government Junta of Chile , was a political structure established during the anarchy that followed the resignation of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo...  (16 June 1932 – 8 July 1932) Provisional President (8 July 1932 – 13 September 1932)
		Bartolomé Blanche Espejo	13 September 1932	2 October 1932	Provisional President
		Abraham Oyanedel Urrutia	2 October 1932	24 December 1932	Acting President
22		Arturo Alessandri Palma	24 December 1932	24 December 1938	President
23		Pedro Aguirre Cerda Pedro Aguirre Cerda Pedro Aguirre Cerda was a Chilean political figure. A member of the Radical Party, he was chosen as the Popular Front's candidate for the 1938 presidential election, and was triumphally elected. He governed Chile until his death in 1941...	24 December 1938	25 November 1941	President
		Jerónimo Méndez Arancibia	25 November 1941	2 April 1942	Provisional President
24		Juan Antonio Ríos Morales	2 April 1942	27 June 1946	President
		Alfredo Duhalde Vásquez	27 June 1946	3 August 1946	Acting President
		Vicente Merino Bielich	3 August 1946	13 August 1946	Acting President
		Alfredo Duhalde Vásquez	13 August 1946	17 October 1946	Acting President
		Juan Antonio Iribarren Cabezas	17 October 1946	3 November 1946	Acting President
25		Gabriel González Videla Gabriel González Videla Gabriel González Videla was a Chilean politician. He was a deputy and senator in the Chilean Congress and was President of Chile from 1946 to 1952...	3 November 1946	3 November 1952	President
26		Carlos Ibáñez del Campo Carlos Ibáñez del Campo General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...	3 November 1952	3 November 1958	President
27		Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez	3 November 1958	3 November 1964	President
28		Eduardo Frei Montalva Eduardo Frei Montalva Eduardo Frei Montalva was a Chilean political leader of world stature. In his long political career, he was Minister of Public Works, president of his Christian Democratic Party, senator, President of the Senate, and president of Chile from 1964 to 1970...	3 November 1964	3 November 1970	President
29		Salvador Allende Gossens	3 November 1970	11 September 1973	President
		Government Junta Government Junta of Chile (1973) Government Junta of Chile was the military junta established to rule Chile during the military dictatorship that followed the overthrow of President Salvador Allende in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état. It was the executive and legislative branch of government until December 17, 1974...	11 September 1973	27 June 1974	Members: Augusto Pinochet Augusto Pinochet Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973... José Toribio Merino José Toribio Merino José Toribio Merino Castro was one of the principal coup leaders of the 1973 Chilean coup d'état, along with General Augusto Pinochet of the Army, General Gustavo Leigh of the Air Force, and General Mendoza of the "Carabineros"... Gustavo Leigh Gustavo Leigh Air General Gustavo Leigh Guzmán was a Chilean general, who represented the Air Force in the 1973 Chilean coup d'état and, for a time, in the ruling junta that followed. Leigh was forced out of the military government in 1978.-Biography:Leigh was born in Santiago, son of Hernán Leigh Bañados and... César Mendoza César Mendoza General César Leonidas Mendoza Durán was a member of the Government Junta which ruled Chile from 1973 to 1990, representing the country-wide police force, the Carabineros de Chile....
30		Augusto Pinochet Ugarte Augusto Pinochet Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...	27 June 1974	11 March 1990	Supreme Head of the Nation (27 June 1974 – 17 December 1974) President (17 December 1974 – 11 March 1990)
31		Patricio Aylwin Azócar Patricio Aylwin Patricio Aylwin Azócar was the first president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.- Early life :...	11 March 1990	11 March 1994	President
32		Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who was President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He is currently Senator for Los Ríos and was President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación...	11 March 1994	11 March 2000	President
33		Ricardo Lagos Escobar	11 March 2000	11 March 2006	President
34		Michelle Bachelet Jeria Michelle Bachelet Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria is a Social Democrat politician who was President of Chile from 11 March 2006 to 11 March 2010. She was the first woman president of her country...	11 March 2006	11 March 2010	President
35		Sebastian Piñera Echenique Sebastián Piñera Miguel Juan Sebastián Piñera Echenique is a Chilean businessman and politician. He was elected President of Chile in January 2010, taking office in March 2010.- Education :...	11 March 2010	Incumbent	President

External links

Presidencia