Hernán Larraín (Napoleon's World)

Hernán Larraín Fernández (born September 21, 1947) is a Chilean politician currently serving as the President of the Gremialist Union, a position he assumed in 2010 following his loss in the 2010 Chilean Presidential election. Larraín served as Minister of Finance in the Cabinet of Joaquín Lavín from 2007-2009, resigning his office to focus on the upcoming Presidential election. Larraín, perceived as hailing from the UG's right wing, is widely regarded as being one of the men most responsible for the 2011-12 Chilean political party realignment, as his refusal to accede to the CDN's nomination of Sebastián Piñera and his decision to run as an Independent under the UG name in the 2010 election was seen as leading to the rift that eventually caused the PN and PDC to form the Chilean Alliance in September of 2012. This has made Larraín a controversial figure in Chile, and led to his permanent rift with former President and UG icon Lavín, who viewed his actions as being damaging to the party and to the conservative movement in Chile in general.