Socialist Party (Bolivia, 1971)
Encyclopedia
The Socialist Party was a left-wing (socialist) political party
in Bolivia
.
This Socialist Party was established on 1 May 1971 by the merger of three small parties (“Acción Popular”, “Frente de Liberación Nacional” (FLIN) and “Grupo FARO”) supporting the former military Co-President (1964 – 1966) and the President (1966, 1969 – 1970) General Alfredo Ovando Candía
, who had been deposed by a radical left-wing faction on 6 October 1970.
Led by Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
, Mario Miranda Pacheco, Alberto Bailey Gutiérrez, and Guillermo Aponte Burela.
The Socialist Party declared itself to be Marxist and independent of Soviet or Chinese influence, favoring popular anti-imperialist unity, directed by the working class, which would end domestic injustice and foreign intervention. The PS's basic ideas differed little from those of the left wing of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
, or of the Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
, except that greater stress was placed on the proletariat's "directive" role, and on the word "Socialism" itself, by the Socialist Party. What the Socialist Party sought to offer that other parties perhaps could not was responsible leadership, prepared to act on declared principles rather than in the service of personal ambitions. Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
, in particular, had established a deserved reputation for honesty and courage during the President René Barrientos
years, when he had several times been arrested and imprisoned by the police. Having supported the left-wing regime of General Juan José Torres
without being in the Government, the Socialist Party opposed the Hugo Banzer Suárez
regime, and returned to the political scene in Bolivia
only after Hugo Banzer
's fall in 1978.
The Socialist Party split in February 1978, with its then leader, Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
, departing to form the Socialist Party-One. The original Socialist Party (right-wing section) chose Guillermo Aponte Burela as its leader. In March 1979, Sabino Tito Atahuichi split from the Socialist Party-Aponte and founded the Socialist Party-Atahuichi.
and polled 00.43, 04.82 and 08.71 per cent of the vote, respectively. The party won five seats in National Congress in 1979 and eleven in 1980.
Some elements in the conservative military feared Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
's potential following as an opposition leader and he was killed during the Luis García Meza Tejada
coup of 17 July 1980. His death leaves his Socialist Party-One – and Bolivian left-wing politics generally – in a greatly weakened condition.
In 1984 the Socialist Party-One absorbed the small ultra-left “Spartacist Revolutionary Movement” (Movimiento Revolucionario Espdrtaco, MRE), led by Dulfredo Rua.
The Socialist Party-One presented Ramiro Velasco Romero as its candidate in the 1985 elections, but he won only 02.58 per cent of the vote, coming sixth. The party won five seats in National Congress.
In the 1989 elections the Party presented Roger Cortéz Hurtado and he won 2.8 per cent of the vote.
In 1993 the Socialist Party-One took part in an electoral coalition United Left
backing Ramiro Velasco Romero, a leader of the PS-1. He won only 0.9 per cent of the vote.
There is also a dissident Socialist Party-One-Marcelo Quiroga, led by Jose Maria Palacios.
.
In 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte took part in an electoral coalition Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
backing Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
.
After the coup d'état on 17 July, 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte disappeared.
.
After the coup d'état on 17 July, 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte disappeared.
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 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...
.
This Socialist Party was established on 1 May 1971 by the merger of three small parties (“Acción Popular”, “Frente de Liberación Nacional” (FLIN) and “Grupo FARO”) supporting the former military Co-President (1964 – 1966) and the President (1966, 1969 – 1970) General Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía was a Bolivian president and dictator , general and political figure.- Early years :...
, who had been deposed by a radical left-wing faction on 6 October 1970.
Led by Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was a noted writer, dramatist, jourmalist, social commentator, university professor, and socialist political leader from Bolivia...
, Mario Miranda Pacheco, Alberto Bailey Gutiérrez, and Guillermo Aponte Burela.
The Socialist Party declared itself to be Marxist and independent of Soviet or Chinese influence, favoring popular anti-imperialist unity, directed by the working class, which would end domestic injustice and foreign intervention. The PS's basic ideas differed little from those of the left wing 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...
, or of the Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
The Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left was a left-wing political party in Bolivia. It was founded in 1963 by the labor leader Juan Lechín Oquendo and by Mario Torres Calleja and Edwin Moller in lesser roles...
, except that greater stress was placed on the proletariat's "directive" role, and on the word "Socialism" itself, by the Socialist Party. What the Socialist Party sought to offer that other parties perhaps could not was responsible leadership, prepared to act on declared principles rather than in the service of personal ambitions. Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was a noted writer, dramatist, jourmalist, social commentator, university professor, and socialist political leader from Bolivia...
, in particular, had established a deserved reputation for honesty and courage during the President 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....
years, when he had several times been arrested and imprisoned by the police. Having supported the left-wing regime of General Juan José Torres
Juan José Torres
Juan José Torres González was a Bolivian socialist politician and military leader. He served as President of Bolivia from October 7, 1970 to August 21, 1971. He was popularly known as "J.J."...
without being in the Government, the Socialist Party opposed the 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...
regime, and returned to the political scene in 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...
only after Hugo Banzer
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 fall in 1978.
The Socialist Party split in February 1978, with its then leader, Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was a noted writer, dramatist, jourmalist, social commentator, university professor, and socialist political leader from Bolivia...
, departing to form the Socialist Party-One. The original Socialist Party (right-wing section) chose Guillermo Aponte Burela as its leader. In March 1979, Sabino Tito Atahuichi split from the Socialist Party-Aponte and founded the Socialist Party-Atahuichi.
The Socialist Party-One
The Socialist Party-One took part in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 general elections, running Marcelo Quiroga Santa CruzMarcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was a noted writer, dramatist, jourmalist, social commentator, university professor, and socialist political leader from Bolivia...
and polled 00.43, 04.82 and 08.71 per cent of the vote, respectively. The party won five seats in National Congress in 1979 and eleven in 1980.
Some elements in the conservative military feared Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz
Marcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz was a noted writer, dramatist, jourmalist, social commentator, university professor, and socialist political leader from Bolivia...
's potential following as an opposition leader and he was killed during the Luis García Meza Tejada
Luis García Meza Tejada
Luis García Meza Tejada is a former Bolivian dictator. A native of La Paz, he was a career military officer who rose to the rank of general during the reign of dictator Hugo Banzer...
coup of 17 July 1980. His death leaves his Socialist Party-One – and Bolivian left-wing politics generally – in a greatly weakened condition.
In 1984 the Socialist Party-One absorbed the small ultra-left “Spartacist Revolutionary Movement” (Movimiento Revolucionario Espdrtaco, MRE), led by Dulfredo Rua.
The Socialist Party-One presented Ramiro Velasco Romero as its candidate in the 1985 elections, but he won only 02.58 per cent of the vote, coming sixth. The party won five seats in National Congress.
In the 1989 elections the Party presented Roger Cortéz Hurtado and he won 2.8 per cent of the vote.
In 1993 the Socialist Party-One took part in an electoral coalition United Left
United Left (Bolivia)
The United Left was a political coalition in Bolivia. IU was launched ahead of the 1989 national elections, as a successor of the United People's Front...
backing Ramiro Velasco Romero, a leader of the PS-1. He won only 0.9 per cent of the vote.
There is also a dissident Socialist Party-One-Marcelo Quiroga, led by Jose Maria Palacios.
The Socialist Party-Aponte
In 1978 the Socialist Party-Aponte took part in an electoral coalition Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles ZuazoHernán 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....
.
In 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte took part in an electoral coalition Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
The Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative was a left-centrist electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The FDR-NA was formed in Spring 1980 byChristian Democratic Party, PDC;...
backing 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:...
.
After the coup d'état on 17 July, 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte disappeared.
The Socialist Party-Atahuichi
In 1979 and 1980 the Socialist Party-Atahuichi took part in an electoral coalition Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles ZuazoHernán 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....
.
After the coup d'état on 17 July, 1980 the Socialist Party-Aponte disappeared.