On March 30, 2007, he launched his candidacy for President in the
2009 presidential election, but cancelled his bid on May 3. On April 29, 2013, Mr. Longueira was nominated by the UDI as its candidate for the
2013 presidential election, replacing
Laurence Golborne. On 30 June 2013, Longueira won the primary election of the right-wing coalition
Alianza por Chile with the 51.37% of the vote against the candidate of
National Renewal,
Andrés Allamand, becoming the only candidate of the coalition for the 2013 presidential election. On 17 July 2013, Longueira abruptly withdrew his candidature, citing personal health problems as a reason. In connection to his ministerial work during the first Piñera administration Longuera is facing corruption charges, including bribery (
cohecho) and
tax evasion (
delito tributario). Seven years after his retirement from politics in 2020 Longueira announced his return to politics and his intention run for the presidency of UDI. Longueira failed however to find support from the president of UDI to inscribe his candidacy. Longueira accuses a political maneuver on part of UDI's leadership. According to pundit Víctor Muñoz the renunciation of Longueira reflects a decline of the leadership of the UDI founders. He is married to Cecilia Brinkmann Estévez and has seven children. Longueira is a
Roman Catholic. ==References==