The Governor acts as the executive arm and the "immediate and natural representative" (representante natural e inmediato) of the region and participates in its administration. The position replaces and assumes the function of the Mayor of the Arica and Parinacota region (Intendente de la región de Arica y Parinacota), created in 2007, and abolished through the Constitutional Reform Act of 2017. The Governor is elected by popular vote through universal suffrage and serves a 4-year term, renewable only once.
