Manuel Monsalve

Manuel Zacarías Monsalve Benavides (b. Coronel, Chile, July 9, 1965) is a Chilean surgeon and politician. A member of the Socialist Party (PS) from 1992 to 2024, he served as its General Secretary in 2010. From March 2022 to October 2024, he was Chile’s Undersecretary of the Interior under President Gabriel Boric.

Monsalve began his political career as a councilor for Los Álamos (1996–2000) and later served as a Deputy in the Biobío Region from 2006 to 2022, representing Districts 48 and 21 over consecutive terms. He held leadership roles in various parliamentary commissions, including those on Health, Education, and Poverty Alleviation, and was active in special investigative committees.

A medical professional, Monsalve began practicing in Los Álamos in 1992 and later directed the municipal health department. In 2000, he was appointed director of the Arauco Province Health Service by Michelle Bachelet, overseeing key health initiatives until 2005.

In 2022, he became the Undersecretary of the Interior, but resigned on October 17, 2024, following a public accusation of alleged sexual assault, which is currently under investigation. The investigation led to additional inquiries into possible justice obstruction and intelligence law violations. On October 25, 2024, the Socialist Party expelled Monsalve due to these allegations. He was arrested on the said charges on November 14, 2024.