Intendant (South America)

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Intendant (Spanish: intendente ; overseer, administrator, intendant) is the name for an administrative officer in various South American countries .

origin

In pre-revolutionary France , intendants were the direct representatives of the king who could be recalled at any time . They were the heads of state administration in the areas assigned to them ( Intendance ).

The Bourbons introduced this division in Spain and South America. The territory was called Intendencia , its head Intendente .

today

  • in Argentina every major city has an Intendencia , comparable to the (lord) mayor
  • in Chile , the director is the representative of the central government in the 15 Chilean regions and thus their highest administrative officer
  • In Paraguay , the director is the highest authority at the local level, comparable to the mayor
  • In Uruguay , the director is responsible for the administration of one of the 19 departments into which the country is territorially divided