Salvador Allende (Allende Salvador)

(1908-1973) also Goossens Salvador Allende (Allende Gossens)
Born in Valparaiso, July 26, 1908. In 1932 he graduated from the Medical Faculty, University of Chile. A year later helped found the Socialist Party of Chile. In 1937 he was elected deputy to the National Congress, where he worked until 1945, when he was elected senator. From 1939 to 1942 he served as health minister.
In 1942, Allende became general secretary of the Socialist Party of Chile. In 1948, the Socialists, disregarding the opinion of Allende, entered into a coalition with the government and supported the decision to ban the Communist Party. Allende broke with former associates and created the People's Socialist Party. When the presidential election in 1952 the latter supported the candidature of the dictator General Carlos Ibц?ц?ez, Allende came out of the party and returned to the Socialist Party. Made friends with the communists, who promised him support in the event of his nomination for presidency. The Socialists have accepted the offer, and the two parties formed an alliance - Front 'Popular Action', which advocated Allende to the presidency in 1952, 1958 and 1964.

In 1969, the Front 'Popular Action' has been converted to National Unity - a coalition of Socialists, Communists, members of the Radical Party and the breakaway faction of the Christian Democrats. In the presidential election of Allende in 1970 surpassed the number of votes of the other two candidates, . but did not get the overwhelming majority, . and therefore his nomination was sent to the approval of Congress, . where he was supported by the Christian Democrats, . once pledged not to violate the principles of democracy,
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In its economic program, Allende said on agrarian reform and nationalization of the largest private companies and banks. The new system involves self-management companies under state control. Government has accelerated agrarian reform initiated by the previous president, Eduardo Frei, and by mid-1972 almost all large estates were liquidated. During the nationalization of tensions in relations with the United States, with North American firms have invested large amounts of capital in the copper smelting industry, refused to accept compensation. In 1972 there was a sharp increase in prices. The economic situation deteriorated further when copper prices fell on world markets.

The discontent of the middle class Allende's rule resulted in mass demonstrations and strikes in 1972 and 1973. By the summer of 1973 the country was divided into two warring camps - supporters of Allende and his opponents. September 11, 1973 in the capital was a military coup. During the storm the presidential palace Allende committed suicide.