Evelyn Rose Matthei Fornet

Evelyn Matthei is a Chilean UDI politician and former mayor of Providencia, widely seen as a prominent centre-right figure and presidential candidate in 2025.

Political career

Evelyn Rose Matthei Fornet was born in 1953 and became one of the best-known names in Chilean right-of-centre politics. She is associated with the Independent Democratic Union (UDI), although her career has often combined party loyalty with a somewhat more pragmatic and technocratic style than the party’s harder ideological wing.

Her political trajectory has been unusually broad. Matthei first gained national prominence in the late 1990s, when she was elected Senator for Araucanía (1998–2010). In the Senate she built a profile on economic and social policy, and on themes linked to governance, employment and regional development. Her legislative role also helped establish her as a serious national figure beyond the usual partisan hierarchy.

A major turning point came in the second government of Sebastián Piñera, when she was appointed Minister of Labour (2011–2013). In that post she played a central role in labour-market policy at a time when Chile faced significant debate over wages, employment conditions and trade union relations. The ministry strengthened her reputation as a politician capable of managing portfolios with practical implications for households and businesses.

In local government, Matthei served as Mayor of Providencia (2016–2024), one of Santiago’s most politically visible municipalities. Providencia is an affluent and symbolically important district, and the mayoralty offered her a platform to project a more administrative, managerial image. During this period she was associated with urban management, public-order concerns, transport, local services and municipal modernisation. Her mayoralty also kept her in the media spotlight and maintained her relevance within the broader opposition to the centre-left and left.

By 2025 she had become the UDI presidential candidate, confirming her standing as one of the principal figures of the Chilean centre-right. That candidacy reflects both her long institutional experience and her appeal to voters looking for a combative but governable conservative alternative.

Relationship with the public

Matthei has generally cultivated an image of straight-talking competence. Supporters often see her as frank, decisive and willing to challenge political correctness. This style has helped her connect with voters who value managerial efficiency and firmness on public issues, especially those related to security, economic stability and order in public administration.

Her relationship with the electorate has also been shaped by the fact that she is a highly visible political personality rather than a low-profile administrator. She tends to generate strong reactions: some voters appreciate her directness, while others regard her as confrontational or abrupt. That polarising quality has been a constant feature of her public life.

Within civil society and the media, Matthei is frequently treated as an experienced and recognisable public figure, with a long record in both national and local office. Her tenure in Providencia and her ministerial work have given her a reputation for being politically durable and institutionally fluent. At the same time, her communication style has often produced headlines, both because of the substance of her positions and because of her blunt way of expressing them.

Positions and political profile

Matthei is usually identified with a liberal-conservative, pro-market and law-and-order profile within the Chilean right. She has defended policies associated with economic prudence, public management, labour-market flexibility and institutional stability. In municipal politics she became associated with practical administration and a preference for visible public services over ideological debate.

Her political identity is notable for combining partisan conservatism with a degree of pragmatism. Although she belongs to the UDI, she has at times been perceived as less doctrinaire than the party’s most ideological figures. That has made her attractive to a broader electorate, including voters outside the traditional conservative base.

Several moments have helped define her public image. Her Senate years established her as a national player; her tenure as Labour Minister made her a policymaker with executive responsibility; and her years in Providencia reinforced the impression of a politician capable of running a visible and demanding institution. Her presidential candidacy in 2025 places these experiences into a national bid built on credibility, order and experience.

She has also been a recurrent figure in debates about the future of the Chilean right. Inside the sector, she is often seen as one of the more electorally competitive and institutionally experienced leaders. Outside it, she is viewed as part of a political tradition that combines economic liberalism with social conservatism, though her personal style can make her appear more centrist in practice than her party label suggests.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Evelyn Matthei? She is a Chilean politician born in 1953, a member of the UDI, former mayor of Providencia, former labour minister, former senator for Araucanía and presidential candidate in 2025.

What party does Evelyn Matthei belong to? She belongs to the Independent Democratic Union (UDI), one of Chile’s main centre-right parties.

What offices has Evelyn Matthei held? She has been Senator for Araucanía (1998–2010), Minister of Labour (2011–2013) and Mayor of Providencia (2016–2024).

What is Evelyn Matthei known for politically? She is known for her direct communication style, her emphasis on administrative competence, and her centre-right positions on economic management, labour issues and public order.

Why is Evelyn Matthei important in Chilean politics? She is one of the most recognisable figures on the Chilean right, with experience in the legislature, national executive office and municipal government, which gives her unusually broad political credibility.

What is Evelyn Matthei’s current role? She is a former mayor of Providencia and, in political terms, the UDI’s presidential candidate for 2025.