1964 Chilean presidential election: Difference between revisions
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'''Presidential elections''' were held in [[Chile]] on 4 September 1964.<ref name=N1>[[Dieter Nohlen]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II'', p262 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928358-3}}</ref> The result was a victory for [[Eduardo Frei Montalva]] of the [[Christian Democratic Party (Chile)|Christian Democratic Party]], who received 56% of the vote. |
'''Presidential elections''' were held in [[Chile]] on 4 September 1964.<ref name=N1>[[Dieter Nohlen]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II'', p262 {{ISBN|978-0-19-928358-3}}</ref> The result was a victory for [[Eduardo Frei Montalva]] of the [[Christian Democratic Party (Chile)|Christian Democratic Party]], who received 56% of the vote. Chilean presidents can not serve two consecutive terms, so center-right incumbent President [[Jorge Alessandri]] was not a candidate in the election. |
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==Electoral system== |
==Electoral system== |
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The elections were held using the absolute majority system, under which a candidate had to receive over 50% of the popular vote to be elected. If no candidate received over 50% of the vote, both houses of the [[National Congress of Chile|National Congress]] would come together to vote on the two candidates who received the most votes.<ref>Nohlen, p259</ref> |
The elections were held using the absolute majority system, under which a candidate had to receive over 50% of the popular vote to be elected. If no candidate received over 50% of the vote, both houses of the [[National Congress of Chile|National Congress]] would come together to vote on the two candidates who received the most votes.<ref>Nohlen, p259</ref> |
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==Campaign== |
== Campaign == |
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A fundamental question of the election was whether to radically transform Chilean economic and political institutions, or whether to reform them. The [[Christian Democratic Party (Chile)|Christian Democrats]] supported further agrarian reform, [[Chilean land reform|which had begun under the Alessandri administration]], and to exert greater state control over the dominant copper industry. [[FRAP (Chile)|FRAP]] called for much more drastic action, advocating the nationalization of copper, nitrate, iron mining, and eventually petroleum companies as well. For agricultural reform, Salvador Allende advocated further transformation, creating a new system based upon a mix of state, collective, and private farms, while urging that no more than 35% of the arable land would be collectivized.<ref>Gil, Federico; Parrish, Charles (1965). "The Chilean Presidential Election of September 4, 1964 Part I". ''Institute for the Comparative Study of Political Systems'': 27-28.</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The [[Church Committee]] of the [[United States Senate|US Senate]] revealed in 1975 that the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] interfered substantially with the election to prevent the accession of [[Marxism|marxist]] [[Salvador Allende]]. The CIA [[United States intervention in Chile|secretly funded more than half of Frei's campaign]] and supported an array of pro-Christian Democratic groups. Two other political parties were funded as well in an attempt to spread the vote. The CIA's assistance to Frei took the form of polling, voter registration and [[get out the vote]] drives, in addition to covert propaganda.<ref>{{cite web|author=Church Committee|author-link=Church Committee|url=https://archive.org/details/Covert-Action-In-Chile-1963-1973|title=Covert Action in Chile: 1963-1973|date=1975}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Loch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cg39hcj6AxQC|title=Strategic Intelligence|date=2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313065286|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> |
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Eduardo Frei strongly advocated reform of the Chilean politics, and in substance often differed little from FRAP's detailed proposals. But Frei took a more moderate tone, emphasizing a "Revolution in Liberty," which would transform Chilean society through democratic rather than totalitarian means, implying that Allende's election would lead to a dictatorship. This was part of a major anti-communist publicity campaign by the PDC, which was assisted substantially by the United States, to scare voters away from Allende.<ref>Gil; Parrish, 27-28.</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The US was countering the influence of the Soviet Union, |
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== Foreign interference == |
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The presidential election took place during the Cold War, at a time when the United States was especially alarmed with the success of communist movements in Latin America. In August, the Alessandri government bowed under pressure from the U.S. and broke off relations with Cuba, following their [[Cuban Revolution|1959 revolution]]. The move was opposed by FRAP, but had little direct effect on the presidential campaign.<ref>Gil; Parrish, 42.</ref> For the [[President of the United States|White House]], [[United States Department of State|State Department]], and [[Central Intelligence Agency]], the democratic election of a Marxist candidate in the Western hemisphere would be a "shocking blow to the hegemonic position of the United States."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hurtado-Torres |first=Sebastian |title=The Gathering Storm: Eduardo Frei’s Revolution in Liberty and Chile’s Cold War |publisher=Cornell University Press |year=2020 |isbn=9781501747182 |pages=13-14}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The [[Church Committee]] of the [[United States Senate|US Senate]] revealed in 1975 that the [[Central Intelligence Agency|CIA]] interfered substantially with the election to prevent the accession of [[Marxism|marxist]] [[Salvador Allende]]. The CIA [[United States intervention in Chile|secretly funded more than half of Frei's campaign]] and supported an array of pro-Christian Democratic groups. Two other political parties were funded as well in an attempt to spread the vote. The CIA's assistance to Frei took the form of polling, voter registration and [[get out the vote]] drives, in addition to covert propaganda.<ref>{{cite web|author=Church Committee|author-link=Church Committee|url=https://archive.org/details/Covert-Action-In-Chile-1963-1973|title=Covert Action in Chile: 1963-1973|date=1975}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Johnson|first1=Loch|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cg39hcj6AxQC|title=Strategic Intelligence|date=2007|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780313065286|access-date=12 January 2017}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The US was countering the influence of the Soviet Union, and while the exact total of funds provided to Allende by the U.S.S.R. is unknown, records indicate he received $200,000 in 1963, and $275,000 in 1965. It was also believed by CIA Director John McCone that the Cuban government had financed Allende up to $1 million, but there are no records proving this amount was paid by Cuba.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Gustafon|first=Kristian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vcd6WBTkJc8C|title=Hostile Intent: U.S. Covert Operations in Chile, 1964–1974|publisher=Potomac Books Inc.|isbn=9781612343594}}</ref><ref>Hurtado-Torres, 22.</ref> In total the CIA spent $3 million in the 1964 elections, more money than [[Lyndon B. Johnson]] spent on his [[1964 United States presidential election|1964 presidential campaign]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bevins |first1=Vincent |title= The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World |date=2020 |publisher= PublicAffairs |isbn= 978-1541742406}}</ref> |
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==Results== |
==Results== |
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Revision as of 23:32, 19 September 2023
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Presidential elections were held in Chile on 4 September 1964.[1] The result was a victory for Eduardo Frei Montalva of the Christian Democratic Party, who received 56% of the vote. Chilean presidents can not serve two consecutive terms, so center-right incumbent President Jorge Alessandri was not a candidate in the election.
Electoral system
The elections were held using the absolute majority system, under which a candidate had to receive over 50% of the popular vote to be elected. If no candidate received over 50% of the vote, both houses of the National Congress would come together to vote on the two candidates who received the most votes.[2]
Campaign
A fundamental question of the election was whether to radically transform Chilean economic and political institutions, or whether to reform them. The Christian Democrats supported further agrarian reform, which had begun under the Alessandri administration, and to exert greater state control over the dominant copper industry. FRAP called for much more drastic action, advocating the nationalization of copper, nitrate, iron mining, and eventually petroleum companies as well. For agricultural reform, Salvador Allende advocated further transformation, creating a new system based upon a mix of state, collective, and private farms, while urging that no more than 35% of the arable land would be collectivized.[3]
Eduardo Frei strongly advocated reform of the Chilean politics, and in substance often differed little from FRAP's detailed proposals. But Frei took a more moderate tone, emphasizing a "Revolution in Liberty," which would transform Chilean society through democratic rather than totalitarian means, implying that Allende's election would lead to a dictatorship. This was part of a major anti-communist publicity campaign by the PDC, which was assisted substantially by the United States, to scare voters away from Allende.[4]
Foreign interference
The presidential election took place during the Cold War, at a time when the United States was especially alarmed with the success of communist movements in Latin America. In August, the Alessandri government bowed under pressure from the U.S. and broke off relations with Cuba, following their 1959 revolution. The move was opposed by FRAP, but had little direct effect on the presidential campaign.[5] For the White House, State Department, and Central Intelligence Agency, the democratic election of a Marxist candidate in the Western hemisphere would be a "shocking blow to the hegemonic position of the United States."[6]
The Church Committee of the US Senate revealed in 1975 that the CIA interfered substantially with the election to prevent the accession of marxist Salvador Allende. The CIA secretly funded more than half of Frei's campaign and supported an array of pro-Christian Democratic groups. Two other political parties were funded as well in an attempt to spread the vote. The CIA's assistance to Frei took the form of polling, voter registration and get out the vote drives, in addition to covert propaganda.[7][8]
The US was countering the influence of the Soviet Union, and while the exact total of funds provided to Allende by the U.S.S.R. is unknown, records indicate he received $200,000 in 1963, and $275,000 in 1965. It was also believed by CIA Director John McCone that the Cuban government had financed Allende up to $1 million, but there are no records proving this amount was paid by Cuba.[9][10] In total the CIA spent $3 million in the 1964 elections, more money than Lyndon B. Johnson spent on his 1964 presidential campaign.[11]
Results
| Candidate | Party | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Frei Montalva | Christian Democratic Party | 1,409,012 | 56.09 | |
| Salvador Allende | Socialist Party | 977,902 | 38.93 | |
| Julio Durán | Radical Party | 125,233 | 4.99 | |
| Total | 2,512,147 | 100.00 | ||
| Valid votes | 2,512,147 | 99.27 | ||
| Invalid/blank votes | 18,550 | 0.73 | ||
| Total votes | 2,530,697 | 100.00 | ||
| Registered voters/turnout | 2,915,121 | 86.81 | ||
| Source: Nohlen | ||||
References
- ^ Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
- ^ Nohlen, p259
- ^ Gil, Federico; Parrish, Charles (1965). "The Chilean Presidential Election of September 4, 1964 Part I". Institute for the Comparative Study of Political Systems: 27-28.
- ^ Gil; Parrish, 27-28.
- ^ Gil; Parrish, 42.
- ^ Hurtado-Torres, Sebastian (2020). The Gathering Storm: Eduardo Frei’s Revolution in Liberty and Chile’s Cold War. Cornell University Press. pp. 13–14. ISBN 9781501747182.
- ^ Church Committee (1975). "Covert Action in Chile: 1963-1973".
- ^ Johnson, Loch (2007). Strategic Intelligence. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313065286. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
- ^ Gustafon, Kristian. Hostile Intent: U.S. Covert Operations in Chile, 1964–1974. Potomac Books Inc. ISBN 9781612343594.
- ^ Hurtado-Torres, 22.
- ^ Bevins, Vincent (2020). The Jakarta Method: Washington's Anticommunist Crusade and the Mass Murder Program that Shaped Our World. PublicAffairs. ISBN 978-1541742406.
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| Parliamentary elections |
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| Referendums | |
