National Falange
Falange Nacional
Founded13 October 1935
Dissolved28 July 1957
Split fromConservative Party
Merged intoChristian Democratic Party
HeadquartersSantiago de Chile
IdeologyCatholic social teaching[1][2]
Progressive Christianity[3]
Political positionCentre

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.

History

In 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

The following is a list of the presidential candidates supported by the National Falange. (Information gathered from the Archive of Chilean Elections).

References

  1. 1 2 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)
  2. ↑ Hartlyn, Jonathan; Valenzuela, Arturo. Democracy in Latin America since 1930. The Cambridge History of Latin America. p. 124.
  3. 1 2 Ensalaco, Mark (2000). Chile Under Pinochet: Recovering the Truth. University of Pennsylvania Press. p. 13.
  4. ↑ Rector, John L. (2003). The History of Chile. Greenwood Press. p. 144.
  5. ↑ 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)
  6. ↑ Smith, Brian H. (1982). The Church and Politics in Chile: Challenges to Modern Catholicism. Princeton University Press. p. 95.
  7. ↑ Fleet, Michael (1985). The Rise and Fall of Chilean Christian Democracy. Princeton University Press. p. 47.
  8. 1 2 Fleet, Michael (1985). The Rise and Fall of Chilean Christian Democracy. Princeton University Press. p. 48.
  9. ↑ Smith, Brian H. (1982). The Church and Politics in Chile: Challenges to Modern Catholicism. Princeton University Press. p. 97.
  10. ↑ A. Hennessy, 'Fascism and Populism in Latin America', W. Laqueur, Fascism: A Reader's Guide, Harmondsworth: Pelican, 1979, p. 288
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