The National Falange[1][4][5] (Spanish: Falange Nacional, FN) was a Chilean Christian political party that existed between 1935 and 1957. It was the basis of the Christian Democratic Party (PDC); still it is customary to use the expressions "Falange" and "Falangista" to refer to members and activities of the Christian Democrats and the same party, respectively.[citation needed]
National Falange Falange Nacional | |
|---|---|
.svg) | |
| Founded | 13 October 1935 |
| Dissolved | 28 July 1957 |
| Split from | Conservative Party |
| Merged into | Christian Democratic Party |
| Headquarters | Santiago de Chile |
| Ideology | Catholic social teaching[1][2] Progressive Christianity[3] |
| Political position | Centre |
History
editIn 1935 a group of younger social-Christians split from the Conservative Party to form the National Falange. Despite its name this group was largely made up of progressive and reformist[6] Catholics, and bore little resemblance to Spanish Falangism. In its early years it imitated elements of fascist movements with some of its members wearing uniforms and undergoing paramilitary training.[7] With its progressive economic program (creating an alternative to capitalism, "redeeming" the proletariat) it was in open conflict with the Catholic high clergy[8] who accused it of disrespecting the Church's leadership and siding with communists.[9] Despite its aim to be a centrist alternative to the left and the right, and relatively great public attention, it never received more than 4 percent of the votes.[8] Later it supported the administration of Juan Antonio Ríos (1942–46) and in 1957 merged with the Social Christian Conservative Party into the Christian Democratic Party.[10] One of its former members, Eduardo Frei Montalva, became President of Chile in 1964. Other notable members include Radomiro Tomic and Bernardo Leighton.[3]
Presidential candidates
editThe following is a list of the presidential candidates supported by the National Falange. (Information gathered from the Archive of Chilean Elections).
- 1942: Juan Antonio Ríos (won)
- 1946: Eduardo Cruz-Coke (lost)
- 1952: Pedro Alfonso (lost)
References
edit- ^ a b Hawkins, Kirk A. (2003). Sowing Ideas: Explaining the Origins of Christian Democratic Parties in Latin America. Stanford University Press. p. 103.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Hartlyn, Jonathan; Valenzuela, Arturo. Democracy in Latin America since 1930. The Cambridge History of Latin America. p. 124.
- ^ a b Ensalaco, Mark (2000). Chile Under Pinochet: Recovering the Truth. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 13.
- ^ Rector, John L. (2003). The History of Chile. Greenwood Press. p. 144.
- ^ Luna, Juan Pablo; Monestier, Felipe; Rosenblatt, Fernando (2014). Religious parties in Chile: The Christian Democratic Party and the Independent Democratic Union. Routledge. p. 122.
{{cite book}}:|work=ignored (help) - ^ Smith, Brian H. (1982). The Church and Politics in Chile: Challenges to Modern Catholicism. Princeton University Press. p. 95.
- ^ Fleet, Michael (1985). The Rise and Fall of Chilean Christian Democracy. Princeton University Press. p. 47.
- ^ a b Fleet, Michael (1985). The Rise and Fall of Chilean Christian Democracy. Princeton University Press. p. 48.
- ^ Smith, Brian H. (1982). The Church and Politics in Chile: Challenges to Modern Catholicism. Princeton University Press. p. 97.
- ^ A. Hennessy, 'Fascism and Populism in Latin America', W. Laqueur, Fascism: A Reader's Guide, Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1979, p. 288