Manuel Monsalve

{{Short description|Chilean politician}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Manuel Monsalve

| image = Manuel Monsalve Benavides 2022.jpg

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1965|7|6}}

| birth_place = Coronel, Chile

| office = Undersecretary of the Interior

| president = Gabriel Boric

| term_start = 16 August 2023

| term_end = 17 October 2024

| predecessor = Gabriel de la Fuente

| successor = Luis Cordero Vega

| office1 = Member of the Chamber of Deputies of Chile

| constituency1 = Concepción Province

| term_start1 = 11 March 2006

| term_end1 = 11 March 2022

| predecessor1 = Camilo Escalona

| party = Socialist Party{{Cite web|url=https://www.ex-ante.cl/perfil-manuel-monsalve-el-medico-ps-que-llega-a-la-subsecretaria-del-interior-y-su-rol-clave-en-la-seguridad-publica/|title=Perfil: Manuel Monsalve, el médico PS que llega a la subsecretaría del Interior y su rol clave en la seguridad pública|publisher=Ex-Ante|date=24 January 2022|accessdate=5 February 2024}}

| alma_mater = University of Concepción
(Lic.) (MA)

| occupation = Politician

| profession = Physician

| parents = Manuel Monsalve
Graciela Benavides

| relatives =

| footnotes =

}}

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.{{cite web|access-date=30 January 2022 |date=2021 |title=Reseñas biografícas parlamentarias; Manuel Zacarías Monsalve Benavides |url=https://www.bcn.cl/historiapolitica/resenas_parlamentarias/wiki/Manuel_Zacar%C3%ADas_Monsalve_Benavides |work=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile}} From March 2022 to October 2024, he was Chile’s Undersecretary of the Interior under President Gabriel Boric.{{cite web|access-date=30 January 2022 |date=29 January 2022 |title=Futuro subsecretario Manuel Monsalve y ataque en Tirúa: la labor de las policías es indispensable |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/chile/2022/01/29/futuro-subsecretario-manuel-monsalve-y-ataque-en-tirua-la-labor-de-las-policias-es-indispensable.shtml |work=Radio Biobío}}

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.{{cite web|access-date=30 January 2022 |date=2021 |title=Reseñas biografícas parlamentarias; Manuel Zacarías Monsalve Benavides |url=https://www.bcn.cl/historiapolitica/resenas_parlamentarias/wiki/Manuel_Zacar%C3%ADas_Monsalve_Benavides |work=Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile}}

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.{{cite web|access-date=30 January 2022 |author=Juvenal Rivera |date=27 January 2022 |title=Manuel Monsalve: el perfil del (casi seguro) subsecretario del Interior |url=https://www.latribuna.cl/noticias/2022/01/27/manuel-monsalve-el-perfil-del-casi-seguro-subsecretario-del-interior.html |work=La Tribuna}}

In 2022, he became the Undersecretary of the Interior, but resigned on October 17, 2024,{{cite web|access-date=17 October 2024 |date=17 October 2024 |first=Alonso |last=Aranda |title=Monsalve renuncia a la Subsecretaría del Interior tras denuncia de violación en su contra |url=https://www.latercera.com/politica/noticia/monsalve-renuncia-a-la-subsecretaria-del-interior-tras-denuncia-de-violacion-en-su-contra/MHAGASZV5NHOLLYDZ4HZABYLGM/ |work=La Tercera}} following a public accusation of alleged sexual assault, which is currently under investigation.{{cite web|access-date=17 October 2024 |date=17 October 2024 |first1=José |first2=Leslie |last1=Navarrete |last2=Ayala |title=Fiscalía investiga denuncia contra subsecretario Manuel Monsalve por abuso sexual |url=https://www.latercera.com/nacional/noticia/fiscalia-investiga-denuncia-contra-subsecretario-manuel-monsalve-por-abuso-sexual/4J2PZQDEHZA57G7JCLDSLL5CFM/ |work=La Tercera}} 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.{{cite web|access-date=25 October 2024 |date=25 October 2024 |title=Tribunal Supremo del PS decide expulsar a Manuel Monsalve: la renuncia fue considerada una agravante |url=https://www.biobiochile.cl/noticias/nacional/region-metropolitana/2024/10/25/tribunal-supremo-del-ps-decide-expulsar-a-manuel-monsalve-la-renuncia-fue-considerada-una-agravante.shtml |website=biobiochile.cl}} He was arrested on the said charges on November 14, 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-14 |title=Former top official in Chile is arrested on rape charges in a blow to President Boric |url=https://apnews.com/article/chile-rape-scandal-government-minister-crime-boric-2d4761a88ebf3a59b7c07efef737645a |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=Associated Press |language=en}}