Rolando Merino Reyes
Rolando Merino Reyes (3 April 1898 – 1957) was a Chilean lawyer, academic and politician. He served as Minister of the Interior from 6 to 13 June 1932 during the first Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile, and subsequently as a member of the second Socialist Government Junta between 13 and 16 June 1932.
He was dean of the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences at the University of Concepción from 1943 to 1956. Merino is remembered for the phrase: «The University is always open to the four cardinal points of culture and spirit, and closed only to those who refuse to fulfill their duties or advocate obstinate dogmatism».
Biography
Merino was a professor of law at the Liceo de Concepción and later taught Introduction to the Study of Law at the School of Legal and Social Sciences of the University of Concepción. He served as Dean of the Faculty of Legal and Social Sciences from 1943 to 1956.
He also acted as legal instructor for Carabineros de Chile, was a member and councillor of the Chilean Bar Association, and served as honorary president of several sports and civic institutions.
Merino was born in Quillón, Chile, the son of Juan de Dios Merino and Delfina Reyes. He studied at the Liceo de Concepción and later pursued legal studies in Concepción. He served as president of the Law Center of the Student Federation of the University of Concepción.
His thesis was titled Commentary on Title IX, Book I of the Civil Code: On the Rights and Obligations Between Parents and Legitimate Children. He was admitted to the bar on 24 December 1923.
Political career
He was a member of Nueva Acción Pública (NAP) and later of the Socialist Party of Chile.
Merino held various administrative and legal positions, including secretary of the Housing Court, legal adviser to the Concepción Charity Board, member of the Agricultural Society of the South, prosecutor of the Colonization Fund, and director of the Saltpeter and Iodine Sales Corporation. He also engaged in agricultural activities at the "El Peral" estate in Concepción.
He served as Intendant of Concepción from 1931 to 1932 and again from 1951 to 1952.
Following his brief tenure as Minister of the Interior and member of the Socialist Government Junta in June 1932, he was elected Deputy for the 17th Departmental Grouping ("Tomé, Concepción and Yumbel") for the 1933–1937 term, serving on the Permanent Commission on Foreign Affairs and Commerce. He was re-elected for the 1937–1941 term for the reformed grouping ("Tomé, Concepción, Talcahuano, Yumbel and Coronel"), joining the Permanent Commission on Finance. He resigned on 29 November 1939 to accept a ministerial appointment and was replaced by Carlos Rosales Gutiérrez.
President Pedro Aguirre Cerda appointed him Minister of Lands and Colonization, a position he held from 28 September 1939 to 2 April 1942. During this period, he also served concurrently as acting Minister of Health, Welfare and Social Assistance (10 October – 14 December 1941) and as interim Minister of Development (16 December 1941 – 2 April 1942).