Social Democratic Party (Bolivia)
Encyclopedia
The Social Democratic Party (Spanish
: Partido Social Demócrata, PSD) was a conservative, small and elitist, but influential Bolivia
n political party
formed by middle-class intellectuals.
The Social Democratic Party was founded in 1944 by younger, conservative Bolivians committed to modernization and the technological and technocratic strategies they believed necessary to achieve it.
Led by Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
(Hernán Siles Zuazo
's half-brother), Roberto Arce, Manfredo Kempf Mercado, Gastón Arduz Eguia, Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez, Tomás Guillermo Elio, and Mario Estenssoro, the party embraced developmentalist, nominally Christian-Democratic principles.
For the 1947 general elections the Party allied with the Liberal Party
and Revolutionary Left Party and backed Liberal Luis Femando Guachalla as the coalition's presidential candidate.
For the 1951 general elections the PSD allied with the Republican Socialist Unity Party
and backed PURS' presidential candidate Gabriel Gosalvez.
During the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
regime (1952–1964), the Social Democratic Party was a minor force, allied electorally with the Bolivian Socialist Falange
. It was generally regarded as an ideological relic of the prerevolutionary period, surviving only because its leaders were relatively young.
After Víctor Paz Estenssoro
's overthrow in 1964, the Social Democratic Party obtained a new lease on life and cooperated with the military regime of General René Barrientos Ortuño
. Their influence no doubt was stimulated by the growing prominence of "technocrats" in the military dictatorships of Brazil
and Argentina
.
For the 1966 general elections PSD allied with the Revolutionary Left Party, Authentic Revolutionary Party
and Popular Christian Movement
and backed Barrientos
as the coalition's presidential candidate. The PSD's leader, Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
was chosen as vice-presidential candidate.
The PSD withdrew support Barrientos
in 1968, but returned to a pro-government stance, when René Barrientos Ortuño
died in a heliocopter crash on 27 April, 1969 and Siles Salinas
became president, serving with conspicuous dedication and honesty for five months until overthrown by General Alfredo Ovando Candía
.
In succeeding years, the Social Democratic Party became inactive after that, although Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
continued to pursue his presidential ambitions.
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...
: Partido Social Demócrata, PSD) was a conservative, small and elitist, but influential Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
n 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...
formed by middle-class intellectuals.
The Social Democratic Party was founded in 1944 by younger, conservative Bolivians committed to modernization and the technological and technocratic strategies they believed necessary to achieve it.
Led by Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was the Constitutional President of Bolivia for a period of five months between April and September 1969.-Background and early life:...
(Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo was a politician from Bolivia. He served as his country's constitutionally elected president twice, from 1956 to 1960 and again from 1982 to 1985....
's half-brother), Roberto Arce, Manfredo Kempf Mercado, Gastón Arduz Eguia, Alberto Crespo Gutiérrez, Tomás Guillermo Elio, and Mario Estenssoro, the party embraced developmentalist, nominally Christian-Democratic principles.
For the 1947 general elections the Party allied with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (Bolivia)
The Liberal Party was one of two major political parties in Bolivia in the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th century. The other was the Conservative Party. The Liberal Party was formally founded in 1883 by Eliodoro Camacho...
and Revolutionary Left Party and backed Liberal Luis Femando Guachalla as the coalition's presidential candidate.
For the 1951 general elections the PSD allied with the Republican Socialist Unity Party
Republican Socialist Unity Party
The Republican Socialist Unity Party was a political party founded on 10 November, 1946 in Bolivia as the fusion of the Republican Socialist Party, the Genuine Republican Party, the United Socialist Party, and the Independent Socialist Party.The PURS was a last-ditch effort of Bolivia's...
and backed PURS' presidential candidate Gabriel Gosalvez.
During 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...
regime (1952–1964), the Social Democratic Party was a minor force, allied electorally with the Bolivian Socialist Falange
Bolivian Socialist Falange
The Bolivian Socialist Falange was a Bolivian political party established in the year 1937. A right-wing party drawing inspiration from fascism, it was the country's second-largest party between approximately 1954 and 1974...
. It was generally regarded as an ideological relic of the prerevolutionary period, surviving only because its leaders were relatively young.
After 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....
's overthrow in 1964, the Social Democratic Party obtained a new lease on life and cooperated with the military regime 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....
. Their influence no doubt was stimulated by the growing prominence of "technocrats" in the military dictatorships of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
and Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
For the 1966 general elections PSD allied with the Revolutionary Left Party, Authentic Revolutionary Party
Authentic Revolutionary Party
The Authentic Revolutionary Party was a right-wing political party in Bolivia.The Authentic Revolutionary Party was founded in 1959 as a faction of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement , the ruling party under the presidency of Víctor Paz Estenssoro by Wálter Guevara Arze,...
and Popular Christian Movement
Popular Christian Movement
The Popular Christian Movement was fouded by General René Barrientos Ortuño in 1966 after the overthrow on 5 November 1964 of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement government of President Víctor Paz Estenssoro by a military coup under the leadership of René Barrientos and General Alfredo Ovando...
and backed 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....
as the coalition's presidential candidate. The PSD's leader, Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was the Constitutional President of Bolivia for a period of five months between April and September 1969.-Background and early life:...
was chosen as vice-presidential candidate.
The PSD withdrew support 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 1968, but returned to a pro-government stance, when 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....
died in a heliocopter crash on 27 April, 1969 and Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was the Constitutional President of Bolivia for a period of five months between April and September 1969.-Background and early life:...
became president, serving with conspicuous dedication and honesty for five months until overthrown by General Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía was a Bolivian president and dictator , general and political figure.- Early years :...
.
In succeeding years, the Social Democratic Party became inactive after that, although Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was the Constitutional President of Bolivia for a period of five months between April and September 1969.-Background and early life:...
continued to pursue his presidential ambitions.