Cristián Labbé Martínez
Cristián Labbé | |
---|---|
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Member of the Senate of Chile | |
Assumed office 4 July 2021 | |
Preceded by | Patricio Melero[1][2] |
Constituency | 8th District (Colina, Lampa, Tiltil, Pudahuel, Quilicura, Maipú, Estación Central and Cerrillos) |
Personal details | |
Born | Santiago, Chile | 6 January 1980
Political party | National Libertarian Party (2025–) Independent Democratic Union (–2025) |
Parent(s) | Cristián Labbé Galilea[1] Isabel Margarita Martínez |
Education | Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy |
Alma mater |
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Occupation | Politician |
Profession | Publicist |
Cristián Andrés Labbé Martínez (born 6 March 1980) is a Chilean politician, former athlete, and current member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile.[1][2]
Initially affiliated with the Independent Democratic Union (UDI), Labbé Martínez gained national visibility for his security-oriented discourse and strong conservative positions. However, since 2025, he has redefined his political identity as libertarian, emphasizing security for individual freedoms, economic liberalism, and a reduced role for the state in both economic and cultural life.
Before entering politics, Labbé gained national recognition as a taekwondo competitor, representing Chile in international tournaments, and later as a contestant in the reality show, Mundos Opuestos, where he cultivated a public image centered on discipline, charisma, and competitiveness. His early media exposure provided him with a platform that later supported his transition into public service and electoral politics.
Biography
[edit]Labbé was born into a politically prominent family in Santiago. His father, Cristián Labbé Galilea, is a retired colonel and former mayor of Providencia, widely known for his association with the military government of Augusto Pinochet. Labbé Martínez studied business and communications, and completed postgraduate studies in political marketing and public affairs.
Before entering politics, he developed a notable athletic career, representing Chile in taekwondo at the international level. His sports background —often associated with discipline, competitiveness, and perseverance— has remained a key element of his political branding, particularly in connection to messages of meritocracy and self-reliance.
In 2013, Labbé was a member of the sequel of the reality show, Mundos Opuestos.[3]
Political Career
[edit]Labbé was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the 2021 Chilean general election, representing District 8 in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, which includes communes such as Maipú and Estación Central. His campaign emphasized public security, respect for institutions, and support for police and armed forces, placing him squarely in the conservative, law-and-order wing of the Chilean right.
During his early years in Congress, he focused on legislation aimed at combating organized crime, strengthening the legal protection of security personnel, and restricting the symbolic rehabilitation of political violence. He also took public positions against what he described as the cultural influence of «victimhood narratives» and «ideological indoctrination» in public education.
Since 2025 Labbé has embraced conservative-libertarian identity, consolidating his long-standing emphasis on order and patriotism with a stronger commitment to individual liberty, free markets, and minimal state intervention. Drawing on thinkers like Friedrich Hayek and Ayn Rand, he views civic order as the natural consequence of individual freedoms safeguarded by robust security institutions and a firm defense of private property.
Aligned with this vision, Labbé has expressed support for Congressman Johannes Kaiser and the National Libertarian Party, viewing them as vehicles for defending «liberty» against both left-wing and right-wing statism. He distances himself from traditional party structures like the UDI, favoring programmatic alliances rooted in individual and national sovereignty.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "UDI elige a Cristián Labbé hijo para ocupar el escaño de Patricio Melero en la Cámara de Diputados". El Mostrador. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Cristián Labbé Martínez es designado en el cupo de Patricio Melero en la Cámara de Diputados". CNN Chile. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
- ^ "El pasado de Cristián Labbé Jr. en 'Mundos Opuestos 2': 'He tratado de vivir con fortaleza la derrota y humildad en la victoria'". ADN. ADN Radio Chile. 7 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
External links
[edit]- 1980 births
- Living people
- Bernardo O'Higgins Military Academy alumni
- Gabriela Mistral University alumni
- Major University alumni
- University of the Americas (Chile) alumni
- UNIACC University alumni
- National Libertarian Party politicians
- Independent Democratic Union politicians
- Politicians from Santiago, Chile
- Deputies of the LV Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
- Deputies of the LVI Legislative Period of the National Congress of Chile
- Chilean television personalities
- Chilean anti-communists