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Revision as of 12:10, 26 September 2002 by AstroNomer (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Salvador Allende Gossens (July 26, 1908 - September 11, 1973) was the President of Chile from 1970 until overthrown in a military coup in 1973.
Born in Valparaiso, Chile, Allende was a co-founder of Chile's socialist party and served as minister in his party's governments and as the Chairman of the Chilean Senate. In his fourth Presidential election in 1970, he obtained the first place in the vote, but, as he didn't have the 50% of the vote, the Congress had to decide between him and the second place, Jorge Alessandri. Once elected, the US CIA ran propaganda operations to incite Chile's president Frei to block Allende's ratification as President by the Congress.
According to tradition, Christian Democrat controled Congress ratified his victory, not without
first making him sign a Statue of Constitutional Guarantees. Allende later called the agreement a tactical move, and ignored it. At that point, Allende started to implement socialist programs in Chile, which divided the Chilean people. He had to deal with the economical pressure that the US imposed on his goverment in all multilateral organism, and the more radical forces in his own coallition, that wanted to accelerate the changes even more. Allende started to ignore many ruling of the conservative Supreme Court, and was accused by Congress of putting himself outside the Constitution.
In 1973, when high inflation and shortages (caused by a combination of internal pressures and mismanagements, and external isolation imposed by the US) affected the country, the Chilean military staged a coup against President Allende, led by Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. Although the CIA denies active supporting in the coup and claims that it was merely informed of it, many believe that the CIA was much more actively involved in the coup than it has admitted. During the capture of the Presidential Palace, Allende was said by his personal doctor to have committed suicide, although some believe he was killed in the defense of the presidential palace.
"Not a nut or bolt shall reach Chile under Allende. Once Allende comes to power we shall do all within our power to condemn Chile and all Chileans to utmost deprivation and poverty." -- Edward Korry, US Ambassador to Chile, upon hearing of Allende's election