Aguirre Cerda, Pedro

Born Feb. 6, 1879; died Nov. 25, 1941. Chilean political figure, statesman, and lawyer.

From 1915 to 1921, Aguirre Cerda was a deputy to the national congress; in 1918, minister of justice and education; during 1920–24, minister of internal affairs; and during 1921–27 he was a senator. Aguirre Cerda was the leader of the Radical Party. In 1938, as candidate of the Popular Front (which the Radical Party had joined), he was elected president. During Aguirre Cerda’s administration several progressive measures were carried out, including a labor law and a law providing bank credit for peasants. Nevertheless, his administration was not decisive enough under reactionary pressure to implement agrarian reform.