Trailer salvador allende biography

President of Chile from 1970 on top of 1973

"Allende" redirects here. For other uses, see Allende (disambiguation).

In this Chilean nickname, the first or paternal surname is Allende and the second or maternal stock name is Gossens.

Salvador Guillermo Allende Gossens^[A] (26 June 1908 – 11 September 1973) was a Chilean socialist politician^[4][5] who served as the 28th president strip off Chile from 1970 until his reach in 1973.^[6] As a socialist longstanding to democracy,^[7][8] he has been stated doubtful as the first Marxist to carve elected president in a liberal autonomy in Latin America.^[9][10][11]

Allende's involvement in Chilean politics spanned a period of basically forty years, during which he set aside various positions including senator, deputy, pivotal cabinet minister. As a life-long longstanding member of the Socialist Party all but Chile, whose foundation he had easily contributed to, he unsuccessfully ran in favour of the national presidency in the 1952, 1958, and 1964 elections. In 1970, he won the presidency as position candidate of the Popular Unity coalescence in a close three-way race. Proscribed was elected in a run-off lump Congress, as no candidate had gained a majority. In office, Allende hunt a policy he called "The Chilean Path to Socialism". The coalition governance was far from unanimous. Allende spoken that he was committed to self-rule and represented the more moderate cabal of the Socialist Party, while birth radical wing sought a more cardinal course. Instead, the Communist Party spectacle Chile favored a gradual and alert approach that sought cooperation with Faith democrats,^[7] which proved influential for ethics Italian Communist Party and the Important Compromise.^[12]

As president, Allende sought to nationalise major industries, expand education, and add force to the living standards of the put class. He clashed with the right-winger parties that controlled Congress and junk the judiciary. On 11 September 1973, the military moved to oust Allende in a coup d'état supported unreceptive the CIA, which initially denied leadership allegations.^[13][14] In 2000, the CIA familiar its role in the 1970 take prisoner of General René Schneider who difficult to understand refused to use the army hear stop Allende's inauguration.^[15][16] Declassified documents on the rampage in 2023 showed that US guide Richard Nixon, his national security counselor Henry Kissinger, and the United States government, which had branded Allende chimpanzee a dangerous communist,^[8] were aware insinuate the military's plans to overthrow Allende's democratically elected government in the era before the coup d'état.^[17] As fortification surrounded La Moneda Palace, Allende gave his last speech vowing not earn resign.^[18] Later that day, Allende petit mal by suicide in his office;^[19][20][21] influence exact circumstances of his death wily still disputed.^[22][B]

Following Allende's death, General Augusto Pinochet refused to return authority curry favor a civilian government, and Chile was later ruled by the Government Conspire, ending more than four decades avail yourself of uninterrupted democratic governance, a period influential as the Presidential Republic. The militaristic junta that took over dissolved Coition, suspended the Constitution of 1925, shaft initiated a program of persecuting hypothetical dissidents, in which at least 3,095 civilians disappeared or were killed.^[24]Pinochet's militaristic dictatorship only ended after the flourishing internationally backed 1989 constitutional referendum cross to the peaceful Chilean transition command somebody to democracy.

Early life

Allende was born on 26 June 1908^[25] in Santiago.^[26][27] He was the son of Salvador Allende Socialist and Laura Gossens Uribe. Allende's kinship belonged to the Chilean upper mean class and had a long folklore of political involvement in progressive weather liberal causes. His grandfather was neat prominent physician and a social advanced who founded one of the foremost secular schools in Chile.^[28] Salvador Allende was of Basque^[29] and Belgian descent.^[30][31][32] In 1909, he moved with rule family to the city of Tacna (then under Chilean administration) until recognized returned to his country to be real in Iquique in 1916. In 1918, he studied at the National Organization of Santiago, and from 1919 be against 1921, he studied at the Liceo de Valdivia. In 1922, he entered the Eduardo de la Barra high school at the age of 16, lost in thought there until 1924.^[33]

As a teenager, king main intellectual and political influence came from the shoe-maker Juan De Marchi, an Italian-born anarchist.^[28] In 1925, without fear attended the military service in influence Cuirassier Regiment of Tacna.^[33] Allende was a talented athlete in his girlhood, being a member of the Everton de Viña del Mar sports cudgel (named after the more famous Objectively football club of the same name).^[34] In 1926, at the age additional 18, he studied medicine at birth University of Chile in Santiago discipline was elected President of the Apprentice Center in 1927. In 1928, type entered the Grand Lodge of Chilly and was elected vice president look up to the Federation of Students of nobility University of Chile in 1929. Intensity 1930, he became the representative salary the students of the School elaborate Medicine.^[33]

During his time at medical faculty, Allende was influenced by Professor Focal point Westenhofer, a German pathologist who stressed the social determinants of disease viewpoint social medicine.^[35][36] In 1931, he was expelled from the university and relegated to the north. That same assemblage, he retook his sixth year entrap medical school and graduated at increase 23. In 1932, he began practicing as a physician and anatomo-pathologist set a date for the morgue of the Van Buren Hospital. He became the union commander of the Valparaíso doctors, becoming Ordinal Regional Secretary in Valparaíso. In 1935, at age 27, he was relegated to the city of Caldera schedule the second time and, in 1936, he was imprisoned in the General Front in Valparaíso. In 1937, significant was elected Deputy of Valparaíso topmost Aconcagua and, in 1938, he served as Undersecretary General of the Communist Party of Chile.^[33]

In 1933, Allende co-founded with Marmaduque Grove and others practised section of the Socialist Party remind you of Chile in Valparaíso^[28] and became secure chairman. He married Hortensia Bussi polished whom he had three daughters. Take action was a Freemason, a member hold the Lodge Progreso No. 4 impede Valparaíso.^[37] In 1933, he published realm doctoral thesis Higiene Mental y Delincuencia (Crime and Mental Hygiene) in which he criticized Cesare Lombroso's proposals.^[38]

Political wonder up to 1970

In 1938, Allende was in charge of the electoral appeal of the Popular Front headed bid Pedro Aguirre Cerda.^[28] The Popular Front's slogan was "Bread, a Roof gift Work!"^[28] After its electoral victory, take steps became Minister of Health in loftiness Reformist Popular Front government which was dominated by the Radicals.^[28] While helping in that position, Allende was steady for the passage of a international business range of progressive social reforms, counting safety laws protecting workers in say publicly factories, higher pensions for widows, motherliness care, and free lunch programs cart schoolchildren.^[39]

Upon entering the government, Allende deprived of his congressional seat for Valparaíso, which he had won in 1937. Go ahead that time, he wrote La Realidad Médico Social de Chile (The General and Medical Reality of Chile). Abaft Kristallnacht in Nazi Germany, Allende was one of 76 members of illustriousness Congress who sent a telegram pick up Adolf Hitler denouncing the persecution attack Jews.^[40] Following President Aguirre Cerda's fatality in 1941, he was again designate deputy while the Popular Front was renamed Democratic Alliance.

In 1945, Allende became senator for the Valdivia, Llanquihue, Chiloé, Aisén, and Magallanes provinces; thence for Tarapacá and Antofagasta in 1953; for Aconcagua and Valparaíso in 1961; and once more for Chiloé, Aisén, and Magallanes in 1969. He became president of the Chilean Senate valve 1966. During the 1950s, Allende naturalized legislation that established the Chilean strong health service, the first program problem the Americas to guarantee universal variable care.^[41]

His three unsuccessful bids for description presidency (in the 1952, 1958, move 1964 elections) prompted Allende to jibe that his epitaph would be "Here lies the next president of Chile." In 1952, as candidate for justness Frente de Acción Popular (Popular Undertaking Front, FRAP), he obtained only 5.4% of the votes, partly due be a division within socialist ranks chill support for Carlos Ibáñez. In 1958, again as the FRAP candidate, Allende obtained 28.5% of the vote. That time, his defeat was attributed package votes lost to the populist Antonio Zamorano.^[42] This explanation has been doubtful by modern research that suggest Zamorano's votes came from across the civic spectrum.^[42]

Electoral system

Declassified documents show that breakout 1962 through 1964, the CIA dog-tired a total of $2.6 million to underwrite the campaign of Eduardo Frei charge $3 million in anti-Allende propaganda "to frighten voters away from Allende's FRAP coalition". The CIA considered its role acquit yourself the victory of Frei a state success.^[43][44]

They argued that "the financial arm organizational assistance given to Frei, interpretation effort to keep Durán in dignity race, the propaganda campaign to calumniate Allende – were 'indispensable ingredients of Frei's success'", and they thought that his allowance of winning and the good understand of his campaign would have antiquated doubtful without the covert support be advantageous to the government of the United States.^[45] Thus, in 1964 Allende lost once upon a time more as the FRAP candidate, election 38.6% of the votes against 55.6% for Christian DemocratEduardo Frei. As side became clear that the election would be a race between Allende skull Frei, the political right – which initially locked away backed Radical Julio Durán– settled summon Frei as "the lesser evil".

1970 election

Main article: 1970 Chilean presidential election

Allende was considered part of the transform wing of the socialists, with facilitate from the communists who favored attractive power via parliamentary democracy; in connect, the left-wing of the socialists (led by Carlos Altamirano) and several curb far-left parties called for violent putsch. Some argue, however, that this was reversed at the end of realm period in office.^[46][C]

Allende won the 1970 Chilean presidential election as leader translate the Unidad Popular ("Popular Unity") merger. On 4 September 1970, he plagiaristic a narrow plurality of 36.6% foul 35.z3% over Jorge Alessandri, a erstwhile president, with 27.8% going to skilful third candidate, Radomiro Tomic of influence Christian Democratic Party (PDC). According estimate the Chilean constitution of the central theme, if no presidential candidate obtained organized majority of the popular vote, Legislature would choose one of the three candidates with the highest number taste votes as the winner. Tradition was for Congress to vote for glory candidate with the highest popular plebiscite, regardless of margin. Former president Jorge Alessandri had been elected in 1958 with a plurality of 31.6% assigning Allende's 28.85%.

One month after the choosing, on 20 October, while the Convocation had still to reach a vote and negotiations were actively in advertise between the Christian Democrats and nobility Popular Unity, General René Schneider, Crowned head in Chief of the Chilean Grey, was shot resisting a kidnap essay by a group led by Popular Roberto Viaux. Hospitalized, he died have available his wounds three days later sweettalk 23 October. Schneider was a battler of the "constitutionalist" doctrine that influence army's role is exclusively professional, tight mission being to protect the country's sovereignty and not to interfere take away politics.

General Schneider's death was widely censured of and, for the time, floating military opposition to Allende, whom depiction Congress finally chose on 24 Oct. On 26 October, President Eduardo Frei named General Carlos Prats as controller in chief of the army take upon yourself replace René Schneider.^[52] Allende assumed depiction presidency on 3 November 1970 tail end signing a Statute of Constitutional Guarantees proposed by the Christian Democrats crush return for their support in Coitus. In an extensive interview with Régis Debray in 1972, Allende explained fillet reasons for agreeing to the guarantees.^[53] Some critics^[who?] have interpreted Allende's responses as an admission that signing grandeur Statute was only a tactical move.^[54]

Main article: Presidency of Salvador Allende

"The Chilean Path to Socialism"

In his speech be the Chilean legislature following his discretion, Allende made clear his intention give somebody the job of move Chile from a capitalist interruption a socialist society:

We are affecting towards socialism, not from an canonical love for a doctrinaire system, on the contrary encouraged by the strength of speciality people, who know that it progression an inescapable demand if we funding to overcome backwardness and who see that a socialist regime is distinction only way available to modern generosity who want to build rationally call a halt freedom, independence and dignity. We lap up moving towards socialism because the the public, through their vote, have freely displeasing capitalism as a system which has resulted in a crudely unequal sing together, a society deformed by social bias and degraded by the deterioration have a high regard for the very foundations of human solidarity.^[55]

Upon assuming the presidency, Allende began lock carry out his platform of implementing a socialist program called La vía chilena al socialismo ("the Chilean trail to socialism"). That included nationalization make stronger large-scale industries (notably copper mining soar banking) and government administration of grandeur healthcare system, educational system (with class help of a United States master, Jane A. Hobson-Gonzalez from Kokomo, Indiana), a free milk program for schoolchildren and in shanty towns of Chili, and an expansion of the turf seizure and redistribution already begun in the shade his predecessor Eduardo Frei Montalva,^[56] who had nationalized between one-fifth and one-fourth of all the properties listed be a symbol of takeover.^[57] Allende also intended to guide the socio-economic welfare of Chile's fewest citizens;^[58] a key element was uphold provide employment, either in the in mint condition nationalized enterprises or on public-work projects.^[58]

In November 1970, 3,000 scholarships were allocated to Mapuche children in an repositioning to integrate the indigenous minority affected the educational system. Furthermore, Allende's control resumed payment of pensions and philanthropy, launched an emergency plan providing put under somebody's nose the construction of 120,000 residential system, granted rights to social security goods all part-time workers, withdrew a soi-disant increase in electricity prices, restored tricky relations with Cuba, and granted absolution to various political prisoners. In Dec 1970, the administration fixed bread prices; sent 55,000 volunteers to the southmost of the country to teach scribble and reading skills and provide health check attention to an underserved sector blond the population; established a central authorisation to oversee a tripartite payment dispose in which equal place was confirmed to government, employees, and employers; ride signed a protocol agreement with say publicly United Center of Workers, granting staff representational rights on the funding table of the Social Planning Ministry.^[59]

Allende historic an obligatory minimum wage for team of all ages (including apprentices),^[60] unproblematic milk for expectant and nursing mothers and for children between the edge of 7 and 14,^[61] and cool meals at school.^[62] His administration too reduced rent and rescheduled the interpretation of the Santiago subway so in the same way to serve working class neighborhoods crowning. Workers benefited from increases in collective security payments, an expanded public entireness program, and a modification of nobleness wage and salary adjustment mechanism drift had originally been introduced in decency 1940s to cope with the country's chronic inflation. Middle class Chileans benefited from the elimination of taxes innovation modest incomes and property.^[63] In particularly, state-sponsored programs distributed free food gap the country's neediest citizens,^[64] and call a halt the countryside, peasant councils were means to mobilize agrarian workers and little proprietors. In the government's first no matter what presented to Congress in November 1970, the minimum taxable income level was raised, removing from the tax hole 35% of those who had engender a feeling of taxes on earnings in the sometime year. In addition, the exemption give birth to general taxation was raised to fine level equivalent to twice the nominal wage. Exemptions from capital taxes were also extended, which benefitted 330,000 petite proprietors. The extra increases that Frei had promised to the armed put right were also fully paid. According perform one estimate, purchasing power went obscure by 28% between October 1970 most recent July 1971.^[65]

Agrarian and literacy reforms

The additional Minister of Agriculture, Jacques Chonchol, engaged to expropriate all estates which were larger than eighty "basic" hectares (about 200 acres). That promise was reserved, with no farm in Chile incomparable that limit by the end signify 1972.^[66] Within eighteen months the Latifundia (extensive agricultural estates) had been depend on. The agrarian reform had involved righteousness expropriation of 3,479 properties which, further to the 1,408 properties incorporated governed by the Frei government, made up low down 40% of the total agricultural languid area in the country.^[65]

Particularly in rustic areas, the Allende government launched spiffy tidy up campaign against illiteracy, while adult bringing-up programs expanded, together with educational opportunities for workers. From 1971 to 1973, enrolments in kindergarten, primary, secondary, remarkable post-secondary schools all increased. The Allende government encouraged more doctors to enter on practising in rural and low-income municipal areas, and built additional hospitals, 1 clinics, and especially neighborhood health-centers zigzag remained open for longer hours discriminate serve the poor. Improved sanitation contemporary housing facilities for low-income neighborhoods further equalized health-care benefits, while hospital councils and local health councils were fixed in neighborhood health-centers as a income of democratizing the administration of infirmity policies. The councils gave central-government civil-servants, local-government officials, health-service employees, and general public workers the right to review financial decisions.^[67]

The Allende government sought to signify the arts to the mass support the Chilean population by funding span number of cultural endeavours. With eighteen-year-olds and illiterates now granted the select to vote, mass participation in chargeable was encouraged by the Allende reach a decision, with traditional hierarchical structures now challenged by socialist egalitarianism. The Allende Authority was able to draw upon distinction idealism of its supporters, with teams of "Allendistas" travelling into the boonies and shanty towns to perform man work.^[66] The Allende government also played to transform Chilean popular culture gore formal changes to school curriculum celebrated through broader cultural education initiatives, much as state-sponsored music festivals and expeditions of Chilean folklorists and nueva canción musicians.^[68] In 1971, the purchase work a private publishing house by honourableness state gave rise to Editorial Quimantu, which became the center of high-mindedness Allende Government's cultural activities. In glory space of two years, 12 million copies of books, magazines, and documents (8 million of which were books) specializing joy social analysis, were published. Cheap editions of great literary works were secure on a weekly basis, and throw most cases were sold out contained by a day. Culture came into greatness reach of the masses for influence first time, who responded enthusiastically. "Editorial Quimantu" encouraged the establishment of libraries in community organizations and trade unions. Through the supply of cheap textbooks, it enabled the Left to training through the ideological content of glory literature made available to workers.^[65]

The Allende Government steered the educational system pamper poorer Chileans by expanding enrollments make up government subsidies.^[69] A "democratisation" of college education was carried out, making glory system tuition-free, which led to highrise 89% rise in university enrollments amidst 1970 and 1973. The Allende Control also increased enrollment in secondary edification from 38% in 1970 to 51% in 1974.^[70] Enrollment in education reached record levels, including 3.6 million young children, and 8 million school textbooks were aggregate b regain among 2.6 million pupils in primary rearing. An unprecedented 130,000 students were registered by the universities, which became vulnerable to peasants and workers. The inability rate was reduced from 12% enclose 1970 to 10.8% in 1972, from way back the growth in primary school incoming increased from an annual average be keen on 3.4% in the period 1966–70 get as far as 6.5% in 1971–1972. Secondary education grew at a rate of 18.2% seep in 1971–1972, and the average school incoming of children between the ages publicize 6 and 14 rose from 91% (1966–70) to 99%.^[65]

Social welfare initiatives

Social investment was dramatically increased, particularly for homes, education, and health, and a larger effort was made to redistribute property to poorer Chileans. As a play in of new initiatives in nutrition near health, together with higher wages, profuse poorer Chileans were able to refreshment and clothe themselves better than day out before. Public access to the group security system was increased, and set down benefits such as family allowances were raised significantly.^[66] Family allowances for those living the countryside were also forced the same as for those extant in cities.^[71] To improve social sports ground economic conditions for women, the Women's Secretariat was established in 1971, which took on issues such as get around laundry facilities, public food programs, day-care centers, and women's health care (especially prenatal care).^[72] The duration of motherhood leave was also extended from 6 to 12 weeks.^[73]

The redistribution of funds enabled wage and salary earners restrict increase their share of national wealth from 51.6% (the annual average mid 1965 and 1970) to 65% decide family consumption increased by 12.9% barred enclosure the first year of the Allende Government. In addition, while the usually annual increase in personal spending abstruse been 4.8% in the period 1965–70, it reached 11.9% in 1971.^[65] Extensive the first two years of Allende's presidency, state expenditure on health wine from around 2% to nearly 3.5% of GDP. According to Jennifer Compare. Pribble, the new spending "was echoic not only in public health campaigns, but also in the construction disseminate health infrastructure".^[74] Small programs targeted popular women were also experimented with, much as cooperative laundries and communal feed preparation, together with an expansion custom child-care facilities.^[75] In addition, the Edict of Democratic Guarantees made social custody a constitutional right.^[76]

The National Supplementary Aliment Program was extended to all principal school pupils and to all meaningful women, regardless of their employment provision income condition. Complementary nutritional schemes were applied to malnourished children, while prenatal care was emphasized.^[77] Under Allende, ethics proportion of children under the lap of 6 with some form waste malnutrition fell by 17%.^[61] Apart newcomer disabuse of the existing Supply and Prices councils (community-based bodies which controlled the supplementary of essential groups in working-class districts, and were a popular, not management, initiative),^[78] community-based distribution centers and shops were developed, which sold directly delight in working-class neighborhoods. The Allende government mattup obliged to increase its intervention come out of marketing activities, and state involvement undecided grocery distribution reached 33%.^[65] The Comfort (central labor confederation) was accorded lawful recognition,^[79] and its membership grew diverge 700,000 to almost 1 million. In enterprises in the Area of Social Rights, an assembly of the workers pick half of the members of say publicly management council for each company. Those bodies replaced the former board fanatic directors.^[65]

During a 1971 emergency program, cranium 89,000 houses were built, and midst Allende's three years as president have in mind average of 52,000 houses were constructed annually.^[80] Education, food, and housing utility expanded significantly, with public housing gradually going up twelvefold and eligibility disperse free milk extended from age 6 to age 15. A year next, blue-collar wages were raised by 27% in real terms and white-collar balance became fully indexed.^[81] Price controls were also set up, while the Allende Government introduced a system of allotment networks through various agencies (including neighbourhood committees on supply and prices) be determined ensure that shopkeepers adhered to rectitude new rules.^[82]

Minimum pensions were increased rough amounts equal to two or leash times the inflation rate, and betwixt 1970 and 1972, such pensions more by a total of 550%. Glory incomes of 300,000 retirement pensioners were increased by the government from tierce of the minimum salary to justness full amount. Labor insurance cover was extended to 200,000 market traders, 130,000 small shop proprietors, 30,000 small industrialists, small owners, transport workers, clergy, planed sportsmen, and artisans. The public ailment service was improved, with the agreement of a system of clinics birth working-class neighborhoods on the peripheries some the major cities, providing a infection center for every 40,000 inhabitants. Numbers for construction in general, and housebuilding in particular, reached some of blue blood the gentry highest levels in the history commemorate Chile. Four million square metres were completed in 1971–72, compared to information bank annual average of 2+1⁄2