Karim Bianchi

Karim Antonio Bianchi Retamales (born 31 January 1983) is a Chilean politician who is currently serving as senator. From 2009 to 2012, he served as regional councilor in Magallanes. He first ran unsuccessfully for National Congress of Chile in 2013, but in 2017 was elected as an independent deputy on the Radical Party's list, representing District 28. During his term (2018–2022), he worked on commissions covering science and technology, public works, transport, telecommunications, and extreme zones, and presided over investigative commissions. In April 2019, he assumed the presidency of the Science and Technology Commission. Later, he achieved a historic victory by being elected senator as an independent with nearly 50% of the vote, the highest percentage and number ever recorded in the region. He became the first senator to win outside any list under the proportional system, overcoming the combined votes of competing party lists. As senator, he has taken part in commissions on government, decentralization, economy, culture, heritage and —newly— sports, transport, telecommunications, and special territories, consolidating his role as a leading figure in Magallanes politics.