Radical Party (Chile)
Encyclopedia
The Radical Party of Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...

 was a Chilean political party
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...

. It was formed in 1863 by a split in the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Chile)
The Liberal Party of Chile was a Chilean political party created by a faction of pipiolos in 1849. After the conservative victory in the Chilean Civil War of 1829 the liberals became the principal opposition party to the Conservative Party...

. Not coincidently, it was formed shortly after the organization of the Grand Lodge of Chile, and it has maintained a close relationship with Chilean Freemasonry throughout its life. As such, it represented the anticlericalist position in Chilean politics, and was instrumental in producing the "theological reforms" in Chilean law in the early 1880s. These laws removed the cemeteries from the control of the Roman Catholic Church, established a civil registry of births and death in place of the previous recordkeeping of the church, and established a civil law of matrimony, which removed the determination of validity of marriages from the church. Prior to these laws, it was impossible for non-Catholics to contract marriage in Chile, and meant that any children they produced were illegitimate. Non-Catholics had also been barred from burial in Catholic cemeteries, which were virtually the only cemeteries in the country; instead, non-Catholics were buried in the beaches, and even on the Santa Lucia Hill in Santiago, which, in the 19th century, functioned as Santiago's dump.

In the 20th century, the radicals adopted a moderately center-left stance, taking part to Pedro Aguirre Cerda
Pedro Aguirre Cerda
Pedro Aguirre Cerda was a Chilean political figure. A member of the Radical Party, he was chosen as the Popular Front's candidate for the 1938 presidential election, and was triumphally elected. He governed Chile until his death in 1941...

's Popular Front
Popular Front (Chile)
The Popular Front in Chile was an electoral and political left-wing coalition from 1937 to February 1941, during the Presidential Republic Era...

 and then to the Democratic Alliance
Democratic Alliance (Chile)
The Democratic Alliance of Chile was a coalition of left-wing parties from 1941 to 1946, which succeeded to the Popular Front headed by Pedro Aguirre Cerda's government...

 left-wings coalition which succeeded to Cerda's death.

During the presidency of Gabriel Gonzalez Videla
Gabriel González Videla
Gabriel González Videla was a Chilean politician. He was a deputy and senator in the Chilean Congress and was President of Chile from 1946 to 1952...

 (1946–1952) it shifted to the right, and many of its members were anti-Communists. In 1950s, the party started to lose ground. At the end of the 1960s, left-wingers gained upper hand in the Radical party, causing some of the more right-wing leaders to leave the party. The anticommunist Radicals formed the Radical Democracy Party. In the crucial 1970 election, which resulted in the presidency of Salvador Allende, they formed an alliance with the right-wing National Party and, later, supported Pinochet
Augusto Pinochet
Augusto José Ramón Pinochet Ugarte, more commonly known as Augusto Pinochet , was a Chilean army general and dictator who assumed power in a coup d'état on 11 September 1973...

's 1973 coup. In contrast, the Radical Party was part of the Unidad Popular coalition supporting Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende
Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....

 who became president in 1970. Radicals, supporting gradual reforms, were generally loyal to the leftist governing coalition.

In its XXV Congress that took place from 31 July to 5 August 1971, the Radical Party confirmed the left-wing line it had taken already in 1967. The congress declared that the Radicals discard bourgeois democracy as an instrument of capitalist domination and the Radical Party is now a socialist party
Socialist Party
Socialist Party is the name of several different political parties around the world that are explicitly called Socialist. All of these parties claim to uphold socialism, though they might belong to different branches of the socialist movement and might therefore have different interpretations of...

, that subscribes to class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....

 and historical materialism
Historical materialism
Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history, first articulated by Karl Marx as "the materialist conception of history". Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans...

. On 3 August, Senators Bossay, Baltra, Acuña, Juliet and Aguirre and deputies Ibáñez, Magalahes, Naudón, Basso, Clavel, Sharpe and Muñoz Barra left the Radical Party. They founded a new party, more moderate party of radicals, paradoxically called Partido de Izquierda Radical - Party of Radical Left
Party of Social Democracy (Chile)
The Party of Social Democracy of Chile The Party of Social Democracy of Chile The Party of Social Democracy of Chile (Spanish: Partido Social Democracia de Chile (PSD), until August 1973 Radical Left Party (Partido de Izquierda Radical) was a Chilean political party of centre-left orientation,...

. The new party initially remained part of the Unidad Popular. On the other hand, a moderate Social Democrat Party, up to then an independent party within the Unidad Popular bloc, merged with the Radical Party. During that time, the Radical Party of Chile declared their organization to be socialist
Socialism
Socialism is an economic system characterized by social ownership of the means of production and cooperative management of the economy; or a political philosophy advocating such a system. "Social ownership" may refer to any one of, or a combination of, the following: cooperative enterprises,...

 and they officially adhered to the doctrines of historical materialism
Historical materialism
Historical materialism is a methodological approach to the study of society, economics, and history, first articulated by Karl Marx as "the materialist conception of history". Historical materialism looks for the causes of developments and changes in human society in the means by which humans...

 and class struggle
Class struggle
Class struggle is the active expression of a class conflict looked at from any kind of socialist perspective. Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels wrote "The [written] history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggle"....

. Like other parties, it was banned after the 11 September 1973 coup.

After the return to democracy, the Radical Party reformed as a center-left group, and joined the Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia, a coalition of parties which also included the Christian Democrats and the Socialists.

Its electoral strength was greatly reduced from that which it had enjoyed between 1880 and 1950. In 1994 joined with the Party of Social Democracy
Party of Social Democracy (Chile)
The Party of Social Democracy of Chile The Party of Social Democracy of Chile The Party of Social Democracy of Chile (Spanish: Partido Social Democracia de Chile (PSD), until August 1973 Radical Left Party (Partido de Izquierda Radical) was a Chilean political party of centre-left orientation,...

 to form the Social Democrat Radical Party
Social Democrat Radical Party
The Social Democratic Radical Party is a social democratic party in Chile.The party is a member of Socialist International....

, and does hold offices in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, as well as in some municipal governments.

Presidential candidates

The following is a list of the presidential candidates supported by the Radical Party. (Information gathered from the Archive of Chilean Elections).
  • 1866
    Chilean presidential election, 1866
    The Chilean presidential election of 1866 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of José Joaquín Pérez.-Results:-References:#...

    : Pedro León Gallo
    Pedro León Gallo
    Pedro León Díaz Gallo was an Argentine statesman and priest. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán which on 9 July 1816 declared the Independence of Argentina....

     (lost)
  • 1871
    Chilean presidential election, 1871
    The Chilean presidential election of 1871 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu.-Results:-References:#...

    : José Tomás de Urmeneta (lost)
  • 1876
    Chilean presidential election, 1876
    The Chilean presidential election of 1876 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Aníbal Pinto, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...

    : Aníbal Pinto
    Aníbal Pinto
    Aníbal Pinto Garmendia was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1876 and 1881.-Early life:...

     (won)
  • 1881
    Chilean presidential election, 1881
    The Chilean presidential election of 1881 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Domingo Santa María, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...

    : Domingo Santa María
    Domingo Santa María
    Domingo Santa María González was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile between 1881 and 1886.-Early life:...

     (won)
  • 1886
    Chilean presidential election, 1886
    The Chilean presidential election of 1886 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of José Manuel Balmaceda, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...

    : none
  • 1891
    Chilean presidential election, 1891
    The Chilean presidential election of 1891 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Jorge Montt, who was the sole candidate.-Results:-References:#...

    : Jorge Montt
    Jorge Montt
    Jorge Montt Álvarez was vice-admiral of the Chilean Navy and president of Chile from 1891 to 1896.-Early life:...

     (won)
  • 1896
    Chilean presidential election, 1896
    The Chilean presidential election of 1896 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Federico Errázuriz Echaurren...

    : Vicente Reyes
    Vicente Reyes
    Pedro Vicente Reyes Palazuelos , was a Chilean lawyer, journalist, political figure, and candidate during the 1896 presidential election....

     (lost)
  • 1901
    Chilean presidential election, 1901
    The Chilean presidential election of 1901 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election of Germán Riesco as President.-Results:Source: ...

    : Germán Riesco
    Germán Riesco
    Germán Riesco Errázuriz was a Chilean political figure, and he served as President of Chile between 1901 and 1906.-Early life:...

     (won)
  • 1906
    Chilean presidential election, 1906
    The Chilean presidential election of 1906 took place through a system of electors, and resulted in the election as President of Pedro Montt.-Results:Source: ...

    : Pedro Montt
    Pedro Montt
    Pedro Elías Pablo Montt Montt was a Chilean political figure. He served as the president of Chile from 1906 to his death from a probable stroke in 1910...

     (won)
  • 1910
    Chilean presidential election, 1910
    A presidential election was held in Chile in 1910, due to President Pedro Montt's death while in office on August 16 that year. His successor, Vice President Elías Fernández Albano, also died less than a month later. It was Emiliano Figueroa, the new Vice President, who called for new presidential...

    : Ramón Barros Luco
    Ramón Barros Luco
    Ramón Barros Luco was President of Chile between 1910 and 1915.Barros Luco was born in 1835 in Santiago, Barros Luco was son of Ramón Luis Barros Fernández and Dolores Luco Fernández de Leiva. He graduated from Law School in 1858...

     (won)
  • 1915
    Chilean presidential election, 1915
    A presidential election was held in Chile in 1915. It was a bitterly contested election between Juan Luis Sanfuentes —a coalition candidate of the Liberal Party and Conservative Party— and Javier Ángel Figueroa —supported by the Liberal Alliance parties. Sanfuentes beat Figueroa by a single vote,...

    : Javier Ángel Figueroa
    Javier Ángel Figueroa
    Javier Ángel Figueroa was a Chilean lawyer and politician....

     (lost)
  • 1920
    Chilean presidential election, 1920
    The Chilean presidential election of 1920 resulted in the election as President of Arturo Alessandri.-Popular vote:Carried out on June 25, 1920. -Electoral vote :Carried out on July 25, 1920.-Electoral vote :...

    : 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....

     (won)
  • 1925
    Chilean presidential election, 1925
    A presidential election was held in Chile on October 24, 1925. It was the first direct election of a President in the country's history, as mandated by the 1925 Constitution, promulgated on September 18 of that year. Presidents were previously elected by a group of directly elected...

    : Emiliano Figueroa
    Emiliano Figueroa
    Emiliano Figueroa Larraín was President of Chile from December 23, 1925 until his resignation on May 10, 1927. He also served as Acting president for a few months on 1910.-Biography:...

     (won)
  • 1927
    Chilean presidential election, 1927
    A presidential election was held in Chile on May 22, 1927. Following President Emiliano Figueroa's resignation on April 7, 1927, Interior minister Carlos Ibáñez del Campo took his place as Vice President and called for elections. He competed with communist Elías Lafertte.-Results:Source:...

    : none
  • 1931
    Chilean presidential election, 1931
    -Results:Source:...

    : 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:...

     (won)
  • 1932
    Chilean presidential election, 1932
    The Chilean presidential election of 1932 was held on October 30 of that year between:* Former President Arturo Alessandri for the Liberal Party.* Former Head of State Marmaduque Grove for the Socialist Party....

    : 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....

     (won)
  • 1938
    Chilean presidential election, 1938
    A presidential election was held in Chile on October 25, 1938.-Results:* Withdrew candidacy before election and gave his support to Aguirre.Source:...

    : Pedro Aguirre Cerda
    Pedro Aguirre Cerda
    Pedro Aguirre Cerda was a Chilean political figure. A member of the Radical Party, he was chosen as the Popular Front's candidate for the 1938 presidential election, and was triumphally elected. He governed Chile until his death in 1941...

     (won)
  • 1942
    Chilean presidential election, 1942
    A presidential election was held in Chile on February 2, 1942. Juan Antonio Ríos was a member of the conservative wing of the Radical Party and defeated General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, portraying himself as a conservative anti-fascist candidate...

    : Juan Antonio Ríos
    Juan Antonio Ríos
    Juan Antonio Ríos Morales was a Chilean political figure, and President of Chile from 1942 to 1946, during the height of World War II. He died in office.-Early life:...

     (won)
  • 1946
    Chilean presidential election, 1946
    A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1946 to elect the successor to Juan Antonio Ríos, who died in office in June of that year.-Popular vote:Source: -Congressional election:Source:...

    : Gabriel González Videla
    Gabriel González Videla
    Gabriel González Videla was a Chilean politician. He was a deputy and senator in the Chilean Congress and was President of Chile from 1946 to 1952...

     (won)
  • 1952
    Chilean presidential election, 1952
    A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1952. It was the first presidential election where women were allowed to vote, after gaining the right in 1949...

    : Pedro Alfonso (lost)
  • 1958
    Chilean presidential election, 1958
    A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1958. Because none of the candidates obtained an absolute majority needed to win outright, a confirmation by Congress was carried out on October 24, 1958 to declare the winner.-Election:...

    : Luis Bossay (lost)
  • 1964
    Chilean presidential election, 1964
    A presidential election was held in Chile on September 4, 1964. Christian Democratic candidate Eduardo Frei Montalva won the election by an absolute majority....

    : Julio Durán (lost)
  • 1970
    Chilean presidential election, 1970
    A presidential election was held in Chile on 4 September 1970. A narrow plurality was secured by Salvador Allende, the candidate of the Popular Unity coalition of leftist parties...

    : Salvador Allende
    Salvador Allende
    Salvador Allende Gossens was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America....

     (won)
  • 1988 plebiscite: "No" (won)
  • 1989
    Chilean presidential election, 1989
    A presidential election was held in Chile on 14 December 1989. This was one of the key events in the conclusion of the military dictatorship.-Results:Source: . -See also:*Chilean coup of 1973*Salvador Allende - deposed by 1973 coup...

    : Patricio Aylwin
    Patricio Aylwin
    Patricio Aylwin Azócar was the first president of Chile after its return to democratic rule in 1990, following the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet.- Early life :...

     (won)
  • 1993
    Chilean presidential election, 1993
    A presidential election was held in Chile on December 11, 1993. Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, son of former president Eduardo Frei Montalva, won the election by absolute majority.-Results:Source: ....

    : Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
    Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle
    Eduardo Alfredo Juan Bernardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle is a Chilean politician and civil engineer who was President of Chile from 1994 to 2000. He is currently Senator for Los Ríos and was President of the Senate from 2006 to 2008. He attempted a comeback as the candidate of the ruling Concertación...

    (won)
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