Partido Auténtico
Encyclopedia
The Partido Auténtico was a political party
in Cuba
most active between 1933 to 1952. Although the Partido Auténtico had significant influence during this period, they eventually became unpopular and, despite significant reforms, their administrations led to Fulgencio Batista
's return to power.
in the previous year to defend the changes that the Revolution of 1933 had brought about.
In the Constitutional Assembly elections
in 1939 the party was part of the victorious Opposition Front, and emerged as the largest party in the Assembly. The 1940 constitution
was heavily influenced by the nationalist and socialist ideas that was at the heart of the party's program.
Although the party also won the most seats in the House of Representatives following the 1940 general elections, their candidate Ramón Grau
, lost the presidential elections. In the mid-term elections in 1942
they finished third, winning only 10 seats. Howver, Grau went on to win the 1944 elections
, which saw the party win the most seats in the House election. They were also victorious in the 1946 mid-term elections
, winning 30 of the 66 seats.
For the 1948 elections
the party formed an alliance with the Republican Party, helping Carlos Prío Socarrás
win the presidential election, also winning both the House and Senate elections. A different alliance with the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party was formed for the 1950 mid-term elections
, which was again victorious. However, they lost the 1954 elections
to Fulgencio Batista's National Progressive Coalition.
of the major parties that existed between the 1933 and 1959 revolutions
. It had as its theme "Cuba para los cubanos" (Cuba for Cubans).
The Partido Auténtico's electoral program contained socialist and corporatist elements. For instance, while in power, the Auténticos supported numerous efforts to strengthen the power of the labor unions, which were some of the party's biggest supporters. Moreover, some of its members supported the management of the economy through tripartite commissions consisting of businessmen, labor leaders and government bureaucrats as well as a second chamber (River Plate) that was composed of labor and business interest groups.
and Carlos Prío Socarrás
, each held the role of President of Cuba. Grau was president twice, between 1933-34 and 1944-48, followed by the presidency of Prío 1948-52. Prío was also Prime Minister of Cuba in Grau's government from 1945-47. Manuel Antonio de Varona was also Prime Minister of Cuba during the first two years of Prío's presidency (1948-50) and later served as President of the Senate and President of the Partido Auténtico. In exile after 1959, Varona and Prío were co-founders of the Organización Auténtica, which sought the overthrow of the communist government in Cuba.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
most active between 1933 to 1952. Although the Partido Auténtico had significant influence during this period, they eventually became unpopular and, despite significant reforms, their administrations led to Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
's return to power.
History
The Partido Auténtico had its origins in the nationalist and anti-liberal revolution of 1933. It was constituted on February 1934 by many of the same individuals that had brought about the downfall of Gerardo MachadoGerardo Machado
Gerardo Machado y Morales was President of Cuba and a general of the Cuban War of Independence...
in the previous year to defend the changes that the Revolution of 1933 had brought about.
In the Constitutional Assembly elections
Cuban Constitutional Assembly election, 1939
Constitutional Assembly elections were held in Cuba on 15 November 1939. The result was a victory for the Opposition Front, which won 41 of the 76 seats.-Results:...
in 1939 the party was part of the victorious Opposition Front, and emerged as the largest party in the Assembly. The 1940 constitution
1940 Constitution of Cuba
The 1940 Constitution of Cuba, was implemented in 1940, during the presidency of Federico Laredo Brú. It was primarily influenced by the collectivist ideas that inspired the Cuban Revolution of 1933. Widely considered one of the most "progressive" constitutions in existence at the time, it provided...
was heavily influenced by the nationalist and socialist ideas that was at the heart of the party's program.
Although the party also won the most seats in the House of Representatives following the 1940 general elections, their candidate Ramón Grau
Ramón Grau
Dr. Ramón Grau San Martín was a Cuban physician and the President of Cuba .-Youth:...
, lost the presidential elections. In the mid-term elections in 1942
Cuban parliamentary election, 1942
Parliamentary elections were held in Cuba on 15 March 1942. The Liberal Party and the Democratic Party both won 21 seats in the House of Representatives.-Results:...
they finished third, winning only 10 seats. Howver, Grau went on to win the 1944 elections
Cuban general election, 1944
General elections were held in Cuba on 1 June 1944. Ramón Grau San Martín won the presidential election running under the Auténtico-Republican Alliance banner, whilst the Partido Auténtico emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 19 of the 70...
, which saw the party win the most seats in the House election. They were also victorious in the 1946 mid-term elections
Cuban parliamentary election, 1946
Parliamentary elections were held in Cuba on 1 June 1946. The Partido Auténtico emerged as the largest party, with 30 of the 66 seats in the House of Representatives.-Results:...
, winning 30 of the 66 seats.
For the 1948 elections
Cuban general election, 1948
General elections were held in Cuba on 1 June 1948. Carlos Prío Socarrás won the presidential election running under the Auténtico-Republican Alliance banner, whilst the Partido Auténtico emerged as the largest party in the House of Representatives, winning 29 of the 70 seats. Voter turnout was...
the party formed an alliance with the Republican Party, helping Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás was the President of Cuba from 1948 until he was deposed by a military coup led by Fulgencio Batista on March 10, 1952, three months before new elections were to be held.- Governance :...
win the presidential election, also winning both the House and Senate elections. A different alliance with the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party was formed for the 1950 mid-term elections
Cuban parliamentary election, 1950
Parliamentary elections were held in Cuba on 1 June 1950. The Partido Auténtico-Democratic Party-Liberal Party alliance won 42 of the 66 seats.-Results:...
, which was again victorious. However, they lost the 1954 elections
Cuban general election, 1954
General elections were held in Cuba on 1 November 1954. Fulgencio Batista won the presidential election running under the National Progressive Coalition banner, whilst the main opposition candidate, Ramón Grau San Martín, withdrew his candidacy before election day. Progressive Action emerged as the...
to Fulgencio Batista's National Progressive Coalition.
Ideology
The Partido Auténtico was the most nationalisticNationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
of the major parties that existed between the 1933 and 1959 revolutions
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
. It had as its theme "Cuba para los cubanos" (Cuba for Cubans).
The Partido Auténtico's electoral program contained socialist and corporatist elements. For instance, while in power, the Auténticos supported numerous efforts to strengthen the power of the labor unions, which were some of the party's biggest supporters. Moreover, some of its members supported the management of the economy through tripartite commissions consisting of businessmen, labor leaders and government bureaucrats as well as a second chamber (River Plate) that was composed of labor and business interest groups.
Notable members
The two most prominent members of the party, Ramón Grau San MartínRamón Grau
Dr. Ramón Grau San Martín was a Cuban physician and the President of Cuba .-Youth:...
and Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás
Carlos Prío Socarrás was the President of Cuba from 1948 until he was deposed by a military coup led by Fulgencio Batista on March 10, 1952, three months before new elections were to be held.- Governance :...
, each held the role of President of Cuba. Grau was president twice, between 1933-34 and 1944-48, followed by the presidency of Prío 1948-52. Prío was also Prime Minister of Cuba in Grau's government from 1945-47. Manuel Antonio de Varona was also Prime Minister of Cuba during the first two years of Prío's presidency (1948-50) and later served as President of the Senate and President of the Partido Auténtico. In exile after 1959, Varona and Prío were co-founders of the Organización Auténtica, which sought the overthrow of the communist government in Cuba.