Government Junta of Chile (1932)
Encyclopedia
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
. The Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile was a short-lived political entity in Chile, that was proclaimed by the Government Junta that took over that year.-Background:...
ended with the election of Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Alessandri
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938....
as new president of Chile.
Creation
On July 26, 1931, President Carlos Ibáñez del CampoCarlos Ibáñez del Campo
General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a Chilean Army officer and political figure. He served as dictator between 1927 and 1931 and as constitutional President from 1952 to 1958.- The coups of 1924 and 1925 :...
resigned, following the economic crisis caused by the market crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
. The office was assumed by the president of the Senate, Pedro Opazo Letelier
Pedro Opazo
Pedro Opazo Letelier was a Chilean politician and provisional vice president of Chile in 1931.He was born in Talca, the son of Ursicino Opazo and Margarita Letelier. He completed his studies in his native city, and then attended the Universidad de Chile, where he became a physician...
, who promptly himself resigned (the very next morning) after naming Juan Esteban Montero
Juan Esteban Montero
Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as president of Chile between 1931 and 1932.-Early life:...
as his successor. Montero, as a way out of the political impasse, immediately called for presidential elections. In the meanwhile he assumed as Vice President.
The presidential elections
Chilean presidential election, 1931
-Results:Source:...
finally took place on October 4, 1931, with Juan Esteban Montero
Juan Esteban Montero
Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez was a Chilean political figure. He served twice as president of Chile between 1931 and 1932.-Early life:...
as the clear winner. He took over again in the midst of a political and economic chaos. His program called for the implementation of an austerity program that involved the reduction of public expenditures and public salaries, a downsizing of the public administration and an increase of the foreign debt. Notwithstanding these harsh measures, the depreciation of the currency continued, and inflation soared while the Central Bank reserves were at an all time low. This economic program only managed to cause widespread discontent, while in no way improving the economy, and in turn led to his downfall.
There were three principal groups of critics against Montero's policies: one headed by journalist Carlos Dávila
Carlos Dávila
Carlos Gregorio Dávila Espinoza , was a Chilean political figure, Chairman of Government Junta of Chile in 1932, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1954 until his death in 1955.-Early life:...
, another (socialist) headed by Air Commodore Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove
Marmaduque Grove Vallejo was a Chilean Air Force officer, political figure and member of the Government Junta of the Socialist Republic of Chile in 1932.-Early life:...
, and the third, known as the NAP (New Public Association) headed by Eugenio Matte (of socialist orientation also.) On June 4, 1932, the Air Force
Chilean Air Force
The Chilean Air Force is the air force of Chile, a branch of the Chilean military.-History:The first step towards the current FACh was taken by Teniente Coronel Pedro Pablo Dartnell, when he founded the Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile on December 20, 1910, being trained as a pilot in France...
, under the leadership of Commodore Grove, rebelled against the government, causing the immediate resignation of President Montero, and the proclamation of the Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile
Socialist Republic of Chile was a short-lived political entity in Chile, that was proclaimed by the Government Junta that took over that year.-Background:...
. The executive power was vested in a Government Junta made up of General Arturo Puga
Arturo Puga
General Arturo Puga Osorio , was a Chilean military officer and Chairman of Government Junta in 1932.On June 4, 1932 he became Chairman of the Government Junta that was established after the resignation of President Juan Esteban Montero...
(in representation of the military party), Carlos Dávila and Eugenio Matte.
Members
| Position | Name !! Took Office !! Left Office | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | General Arturo Puga Osorio Arturo Puga General Arturo Puga Osorio , was a Chilean military officer and Chairman of Government Junta in 1932.On June 4, 1932 he became Chairman of the Government Junta that was established after the resignation of President Juan Esteban Montero... Carlos Dávila Espinoza Carlos Dávila Carlos Gregorio Dávila Espinoza , was a Chilean political figure, Chairman of Government Junta of Chile in 1932, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1954 until his death in 1955.-Early life:... |
June 4, 1932 June 16, 1932 |
June 16, 1932 July 8, 1932 |
| Member | Carlos Dávila Espinoza Carlos Dávila Carlos Gregorio Dávila Espinoza , was a Chilean political figure, Chairman of Government Junta of Chile in 1932, and Secretary General of the Organization of American States from 1954 until his death in 1955.-Early life:... Rolando Merino Reyes Rolando Meriño Rolando Meriño Betancourt is a baseball player for Cuba. He was born at February 17, 1971 in Santiago de Cuba and was part of the Cuban teams which won silver medals at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:... Pedro Nolasco Cárdenas Avendaño |
June 4, 1932 June 13, 1932 June 16, 1932 |
June 13, 1932 June 16, 1932 July 8, 1932 |
| Member | Eugenio Matte Hurtado Alberto Cabero Díaz Alberto Cabero Alberto Cabero Díaz was a Chilean politician, President of the Chilean Senate and Member of Government Junta in 1932.... |
June 4, 1932 June 16, 1932 |
June 16, 1932 July 8, 1932 |
History
As soon as the Junta took power, they decreed the dissolution of Congress, and a series of measures of social character. From the beginning, this Junta captivated the public support, but soon it became apparent that there was no unity within it. Only a week and a half later, on June 13, Dávila resigned, and was replaced by Rolando Merino ReyesRolando Meriño
Rolando Meriño Betancourt is a baseball player for Cuba. He was born at February 17, 1971 in Santiago de Cuba and was part of the Cuban teams which won silver medals at the 2000 and 2008 Summer Olympics.-References:...
.
Three days later, Dávila managed to replace General Puga, and the other members, with himself, Pedro Nolasco Cárdenas and Alberto Cabero
Alberto Cabero
Alberto Cabero Díaz was a Chilean politician, President of the Chilean Senate and Member of Government Junta in 1932....
. Public order was reestablished, but it gave way to a regime whose only support was force. On July 8, Dávila dissolved the Junta and assumed power as “Provisional President”. He called new congressional elections, and adopted a new batch of measures to solve the economic crisis. Nonetheless, the opposition to his rule was increasing daily, and finally was forced to resign on September 13, 1932, handing power to General Bartolomé Blanche
Bartolomé Blanche
General Bartolomé Guillermo Blanche Espejo was a Chilean military officer and provisional president of Chile in 1932....
.
See also
- History of ChileHistory of ChileThe territory of Chile has been populated since at least 2,000 BC. By the 16th century, Spanish conquistadors began to subdue and colonize the region of present-day Chile, and the territory became a colony from 1540 to 1818, when it gained independence from Spain...
- List of Government Juntas of Chile
- List of coup d'état in ChileChilean coup d'étatThis is a list of the coups d'état that have taken place in Chile during its independent history:-1780s:...
- List of Heads of StatePresident of ChileThe President of the Republic of Chile is both the head of state and the head of government of the Republic of Chile. The President is responsible of the government and state administration...