Popular Christian Movement
Encyclopedia
The Popular Christian Movement (Spanish
: Movimiento Popular Cristiano, MPC) was fouded by General René Barrientos Ortuño
in 1966 after the overthrow on 5 November 1964 of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
(MNR) government of President Víctor Paz Estenssoro
by a military coup under the leadership of René Barrientos
and General Alfredo Ovando Candía
. Its purpose was to support René Barrientos
in the general election the military regime arranged on 3 July 1966. During the three years René Barrientos
remained in power, the Popular Christian Movement was the government party. The organizing cadres for the party were drawn from a variety of sources with the largest single source being from the old anti-Víctor Paz Estenssoro
factions of the MNR.
The Popular Christian Movement differed somewhat from other official parties in that it sought – and to a degree maintained – contact with peasant union organizations. This rallying of peasant support was part of René Barrientos
's strategy of allying the military with the conservative postreform peasantry. No subsequent military leader has been able to sustain this alliance effectively. The Popular Christian Movement, like other parties organized from the presidential palace, served to give some gifted politicians a start in national politics. José Ortiz Mercado, for example, who became a major figure in the Alfredo Ovando Candía
administration (1969–1971), was an Popular Christian Movement member of the National Congress from Santa Cruz Department elected in 1966.
For all practical purposes, the MPC died with the accidental death of General René Barrientos Ortuño
early 27 April, 1969 and has had no political power in decades.
In 1966 the Popular Christian Movement took part in an electoral coalition Nationalist Union of the People
backing Juan Pereda Asbún
.
In 1979, the MPC dissolved into Hugo Banzer Suárez
's new Nationalist Democratic Action
(ADN).
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Movimiento Popular Cristiano, MPC) was fouded by General René Barrientos Ortuño
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
in 1966 after the overthrow on 5 November 1964 of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement is a Bolivian political party, perhaps the most important in the country during the 20th century. At the legislative elections in 2002, the party won, in an alliance with the Free Bolivia Movement, 26.9% of the popular vote and 36 out of 130 seats in the...
(MNR) government of President Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
by a military coup under the leadership of René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
and General Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía was a Bolivian president and dictator , general and political figure.- Early years :...
. Its purpose was to support René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
in the general election the military regime arranged on 3 July 1966. During the three years René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
remained in power, the Popular Christian Movement was the government party. The organizing cadres for the party were drawn from a variety of sources with the largest single source being from the old anti-Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
factions of the MNR.
The Popular Christian Movement differed somewhat from other official parties in that it sought – and to a degree maintained – contact with peasant union organizations. This rallying of peasant support was part of René Barrientos
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
's strategy of allying the military with the conservative postreform peasantry. No subsequent military leader has been able to sustain this alliance effectively. The Popular Christian Movement, like other parties organized from the presidential palace, served to give some gifted politicians a start in national politics. José Ortiz Mercado, for example, who became a major figure in the Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía was a Bolivian president and dictator , general and political figure.- Early years :...
administration (1969–1971), was an Popular Christian Movement member of the National Congress from Santa Cruz Department elected in 1966.
For all practical purposes, the MPC died with the accidental death of General René Barrientos Ortuño
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
early 27 April, 1969 and has had no political power in decades.
In 1966 the Popular Christian Movement took part in an electoral coalition Nationalist Union of the People
Nationalist Union of the People
The Nationalist Union of the People was a right-wing, pro-military electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The UNP was formed in January 1978 by...
backing Juan Pereda Asbún
Juan Pereda
Juan Pereda Asbún is a former military general and de facto president of Bolivia . Although he ruled for only four months, his ascent to the presidency marked the beginning of the most unstable period in Bolivian history, with nine presidents in a little over 4 years , in comparison to only one in...
.
In 1979, the MPC dissolved into Hugo Banzer Suárez
Hugo Banzer
Hugo Banzer Suárez was a politician, military general, dictator and President of Bolivia. He held the Bolivian presidency twice: from August 22, 1971 to July 21, 1978, as a dictator; and then again from August 6, 1997 to August 7, 2001, as constitutional President.-Military and ideological...
's new Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action is a right-wing political party in Bolivia led by Jorge Quiroga. ADN was founded on March 23, 1979 by the military dictator Hugo Banzer after he stepped down from power. It later expanded to include the Revolutionary Left Party and a faction of the Bolivian Socialist...
(ADN).