Talk:Eduardo Frei Montalva

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In reading this short article, several questions came to my mind that were not answered by the text. I think general strengthening is needed, but I'm sorry to say I can't supply the answers I'm asking for. == Frei's life == There is very little said of possible motivating factors in Frei's personal background. Was he rich, poor? Was his family famous or unknown? What motivated him in life? A few sentences could give us a better idea of who he was and why he did what he did. == Frei's political trajectory == I get the impression from this article that Frei was something of an opportunist. This is based solely on my reading of his political party affiliations within this article. I don't know if it's true or not. The article should clarify his core political beliefs, loyalties, and interests. The article states that Frei started his political career in the Conservative Party, but then in 1938 was a co-founder of the Falange Nacional. Was this a lurch to the right? Falangist parties are usually fascist parties. Was this the case for the Falange Nacional? Then the article says that the Falange Nacional became the Christian Democratic Party of Chile. Was this a leftward move? I'm not sure of this, but I think Christian Democrats are usually center-right, between Social Democrats on the left and Falangists on the right. Could this be discussed a bit more? == KGB involvement in support of Salvador Allende == While CIA involvement in Chilean politics is pretty well documented, I have seen much less about the KGB in this context. The article states that "Allende ... was backed by the KGB," and "His party was supported by funds supplied by the Soviet Union." This statement is unsupported by any references, which either should be supplied, or the statement should be be softened somewhat (as in "It has been alleged by this or that person that his party was supported by funds supplied by the Soviet Union"), or else removed. == Frei's reforms while President == The reforms attributed to Frei sound leftish: Social Promotion, Agrarian Reform, Education Reform, Neighborhood Associations. But otherwise, he sounds like a rightist. Were these reforms in fact popular ones, or were they some sort of rightist disinformation obscuring their true aims? Again, this article seems to put Frei all over the political spectrum. Clarification is needed. == The "Totalitarian Project" == According to the article, Frei (out of office at this point) and the Christian Democrats supported the coup against Allende. The following sentence is problematic for me: In November 1973 Frei wrote a historic letter to Mariano Rumor, President of the International Christian Democrats, endorsing the Armed Forces intervention and denouncing the attempt by Allende to impose in Chile a communist dictatorship. If the letter is indeed historic, a link should be provided so we can go read it. Frei may indeed have written such a letter, but this sentence obscures who claimed that Allende would impose a communist dictatorship. Was it Frei himself in the letter? If so, then quote it: In November 1973 Frei wrote a historic letter to Mariano Rumor, President of the International Christian Democrats, endorsing the Armed Forces intervention and denouncing the attempt by Allende "to impose in Chile a communist dictatorship" (but using Frei's actual words if they are known). Was Allende in fact trying to impose a communist dictatorship? I believe not, but the belief that he was is core among conservatives, rightists, fascists, and falangists, and of US Republicans. It cannot be allowed to stand without attribution to reliable sources. It sounds (arguably) as if the article's author himself is supplying the opinion that Allende was trying to impose a communist dictatorship in Chile. --Chethcoat 19:03, 5 January 2007 (UTC) Swiss Nationality In the Wikipedia Article is written that President Eduardo Frei-Motalva's father was a Swiss-born, and that he came from Austria. This is not completely true as he didn't come from Austria. Correction: Eduardo Frei Montalva's father was Eduard Frei-Schlinz. He was Swiss Citizen and came from Nesslau-Krummenau, Kanton St. Gallen (German speaking part of Switzerland). (Mention of source: Berner Zeitung, January 10, 2010) / Historian — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.155.46.214 (talk) 03:04, 1 October 2012 (UTC) == Swiss Nationality == Swiss Nationality In the Wikipedia Article is written that Eduardo Frei-Motalva father was a Swiss-born, and that he came from Austria. This is not completely true. Correction: Eduardo Frei Montalva's father was Eduard Frei-Schlinz. He was Swiss citizen of Nesslau-Krummenau, Kanton St. Gallen (German speaking part of Switzerland). (Mention of source: Berner Zeitung, January 10, 2010) / Historian — Preceding unsigned comment added by 188.155.46.214 (talk) 03:07, 1 October 2012 (UTC)

Last edited at 03:09, 1 October 2012 (UTC). Substituted at 14:09, 29 April 2016 (UTC)