The Political parties of Chile, otherwise known as the "Party System", clearly categorizes three distinct political groups in Chile (left, central and right). Before 1973, the three parties were moderately pluralistic and fragmented.

This distinction has existed since the end of the 19th Century, however since then, different parties have begun to consistently make up the three groups. Each party has participated in the Management of the State or has been represented in the National Congress.

Political parties are recognized legally and formally in the Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile of 1980 and by the Organic Constitutional Law of Political Parties of 1987 as organizations that participate in the legal political system and contribute to guiding public opinion.

History of Chile's political parties

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Origins and the first blocks (1810-1860)

Principal political parties in Chile between 1830 and 1970
Principal political parties in Chile between 1830 and 1970

In Chile, the first political groups were created during the Independence of Chile: the Royalists (in favor of the King of Spain) and the Patriots (in favor of a more independent republic). In turn, they divided into the Moderates (those in favor of more autonomous processes under the Spanish Empire) and the Radicals.

Once Chile had independence, many political groupings emerged. They were based on various popular leaders, and not as much around common political ideals. Two very strong political groupings were "The Pipolos"—the Liberals—and "The Pelucónes"—the conservatives--, with the O’higginists and the Tobacconists often found by their side. Finally, after Diego Portales Palazuelos became the architect of the New Institution, through the The Constitution of 1833, "The Pelucónes" prevailed for thirty years (1831-1861).

From 1831-1861, the prevailing political system was one in which the President co-opted a successor. This system greatly influenced the idea that power was transferred between members of the ruling political sector. Only the Question of the Sacristan (1856), which divided "The Pelucónes (now called the Conservatives), allowed for the rise of the Liberals to power in 1861.

Dominance of the traditional parties (1860-1920)

The formal emergence of political parties in Chilean institutions occurred around the 1850s. Chileans began to challenge the President as the leading role in national political life through the National Congress. In 1891, the disagreement was finally resolved, in favor of the latter.

Around that time, the rise of the middle class would eventually lead to the creation of the Radical Party. Their campaign started in the 1850s, as a group defending the interests of the silver miners mining bourgeoisie, but it would gradually shift its focus to the employees of the growing state bureaucracy. Soon afterwards, from the same branch of radicalism, the Democratic Party appeared. It was a community that was born closer to the proletarian sectors, but that over time would join the game of alliances with the rest of the party system.

After the Chilean Civil War of 1891, the political system began to embody elements of a parliamentary system. Hence, the political coalitions became very strong. Although around twenty distinct political parties and movements existed, Chilean politics was structured around two large groups: the Liberal Alliance (of Liberal and Progressive tendency) and theCoalition (Conservative, Catholics). At the same time, political parties, until then a sort of political clubs of the oligarchic bourgeoisie, expanded to include the thriving middle and working class too.

Massification of political parties (1920-1973)

With the rise of Immigration from Europe, workers with anarchist and socialist ideas came to Chile. Additionally, in the mid-19 century, the union movement began in the nitrate fields of theGreat North of Chile through a surge of the mancomunales and resistance cooperatives. It is from these processes that in 1912, the Workers' Socialist Party (OSP) was founded in Iquique by the typographer Luis Emilio Recabarren and 30 union workers and employees. OSP is defined as the political party of the Chilean working class. In 1922, SOP joined the Third Communist International, which is now known as the Chilean Communist Party.

In the period between 1920 and 1938 (between the start of the first presidential term of Arturo Alessandri Palma and the end of his second term) a series of political incidents led to the loss of the importance of traditional nineteenth-century parties, but for the benefit of the party masses.

The splendor of this new type of political party would come with the three presidential terms of the Radical Party between 1938 and 1952. At that time, the Radical Party (the group of the middle class, par excellence), transformed into a large body of positions and political favors, which in the long run would lead to its discredit. Its place as an intermediate political group—between the right and the left—would be taken by the Christian Democratic Party. The Christian Democratic Party is the successor of the National Falange, which in turn had split from the declining Conservative Party after the victory of Eduardo Frei Montalva (1964-1970). Regarding political parties, their main characteristic between 1938 and 1973 was their structuring into the classic "three thirds” system (right, central, and left).

With Salvador Allende, the Popular Unity Party came to power as a vast political coalition composed of elements from the center and the left. However, the Military Coup of 1973 signified not only the desperation of the Popular Unity, but the breakdown of the party system and its end during most of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. Only in the last year of the military dictatorship was the Organic Constitutional Law of Political Parties enacted, which regulated their formation and function.

Proscription of parties and reorganization (1973-1990)

Between 1973 and 1987, Chilean political parties were prohibited. On October 8, 1973, the members of the Popular Unity Party were banned and three days later, the rest of the political parties and movements were declared adjourned,[1] and definitively dissolved on March 12, 1977.[2]

On October 1, 1996, the Organic Constitutional Law was published in the Legal Gazette, which reestablished the system of electoral registrations and created the Electoral Service of Chile (Servel) as a replacement for the former Directorate of the Electoral Registry.[3] On March 23, 1987, the Organic Constitutional Law of Political Parties was published –which established its objectives, requirements for legalization and the internal organization between others—with witch the groups began procedures for their legal recognition.[4]

The National Party was the first political organization to be legally recognized by the Servel on December 23, 1987, inscribed officially in the registry on January 4, 1988.[5] In the following months—before the Plebiscite of October 5, 1988—the National Advance, Humanist, Natural Renewal, Radical Democracy, Socialist, Christian Democratic (CDP), Party for Democracy, Party of the South, Radical and Green parties were legalized.[6]

Return to democracy (1990-present)

With the restoration of Democracy in 1990, the prominent political model was the Agreement of Parties for Democracy, a center-left group founded by 17 political parties. According to the agreement, only the Christian Democratic Party (CDP), the Social Democratic Radical Party (SDRP), the Party for Democracy (PPD), and the Socialist Party (SP) survived.The agreement governed Chile throughout the presidencies of Patricio Aylwin (1990-1994), Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994-2000), Ricardo Lagos (2000-2006) and Michelle Bachelet (2006-2010). The staunchest opponent of the ruling party, both as a supervisory body and as a parliamentary and popular opposition, was the Alliance (also known as the "Alliance for Chile"). The Alliance was center-right and grouped together the Independent Democratic Union (IDU), the National Renewal (NR), and to a lesser extent, the leftist pact of Together We Can Do More.

The Alliance came to power when Sebastián Piñera (2010-2014) assumed office. In 2013, the parties that made up the Opposition Agreement decided to make an agreement with the Communist Party (CChP), the Citizen Left (LC), and the MAS Region (MAS), creating the New Majority. This coalition won comfortable victories in the 2013 elections and achieved reelection of Michelle Bachelet between 2014-2018. For its part, the parties that made up the Alliance, regrouped in 2015 in a new coalition denominated Chile Vamos (Spanish for "Let's go Chile").

In 2016, the number of political parties in Chile doubled, increasing from 14 to 32. It came as a precursor to the municipal elections of the year and the Parliamentary Elections of 2017,[7] given that they will be the first to be held under the new proportional electoral system, the replacement for the binomial system. The binomial system favored the existence of two blocks to the detriment of isolated parties and independent candidates. In that election, the Broad Front appeared, a coalition that brought together left and liberal sectors, which surprisingly won the election of 20 deputies.[8] In the presidential election, Sebastián Piñera was able to return to the government and establish Let's Go Chile as an official coalition.

This article lists political parties in Chile.

Chile has a multi-party system, within a system with two dominant coalitions.

Political parties

Active

As of August 2021 there are 27 legally constituted political parties in Chile.[9]

Party/Alliance Abbr. Est. Position International
affiliation		 Governors[10] Senators[11] Deputies[12] Constituents[13] Regional
advisors[14]		 Mayors[15] Councilors
Chile Podemos Más
Chile we can do better 		ChP+ 2015 Centre-right
to right-wing 		IDU
1 / 16
22 / 43
53 / 155
36 / 155
133 / 278
88 / 345
772 / 2,252
 National Renewal
Renovación Nacional 		RN 1987 Centre-right
to right-wing		 IDU,[16] CDI[17]
0 / 16
6 / 43
32 / 155
15 / 155
72 / 278
32 / 345
347 / 2,252
 Independent Democratic Union
Unión Demócrata Independiente		 UDI 1983 Right-wing IDU[16]
0 / 16
9 / 43
26 / 155
17 / 155
46 / 278
32 / 345
298 / 2,252
 Political Evolution
Evolución Política 		Evópoli 2012 Centre-right RELIAL
0 / 16
1 / 43
6 / 155
5 / 155
5 / 278
1 / 345
61 / 2,252
 Democratic Independent Regionalist Party[a]
Partido Regionalista Independiente Demócrata		 PRI 2018 Centre to
centre-right		 None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
5 / 278
0 / 345
37 / 2,252
 New Social Pact
Nuevo Pacto Social 		NPS 2021 Centre to
centre-left 		None
12 / 16
21 / 43
42 / 155
25 / 155
121 / 278
128 / 345
1,007 / 2,252
 Socialist Party
Partido Socialista de Chile 		PS 1933 Centre-left PA, SI, FSP,
COPPPAL
4 / 16
7 / 43
17 / 155
15 / 155
26 / 278
22 / 345
272 / 2,252
 Christian Democratic Party
Partido Demócrata Cristiano		 PDC 1957 Centre to
centre-left		 CDI[17]
4 / 16
5 / 43
12 / 155
1 / 155
44 / 278
46 / 345
315 / 2,252
 Party for Democracy
Partido por la Democracia		 PPD 1987 Centre-left PA, SI,
COPPPAL
0 / 16
7 / 43
7 / 155
3 / 155
30 / 278
17 / 345
202 / 2,252
 Liberal Party[b]
Partido Liberal de Chile		 PL 2013 Centre-left LI
0 / 16
0 / 43
2 / 155
1 / 155
0 / 278
1 / 345
4 / 2,252
 Radical Party[c]
Partido Radical de Chile 		PR 1863 Centre to
centre-left		 PA, SI,
COPPPAL
0 / 16
0 / 43
5 / 155
1 / 155
12 / 278
11 / 345
174 / 2,252
 Citizens[d]
Ciudadanos		 CIU 2016 Centre to
centre-left		 None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
7 / 2,252
 Approve Dignity
Apruebo Dignidad 		AD 2021 Left-wing
to far-left 		None
2 / 16
1 / 43
28 / 155
28 / 155
31 / 278
22 / 345
360 / 2,252
 Communist Party
Partido Comunista de Chile 		PCCh 1922 Left-wing
to far-left		 FSP, CBP,
IMCWP
0 / 16
0 / 43
9 / 155
7 / 155
11 / 278
6 / 345
157 / 2,252
 Democratic Revolution[e]
Revolución Democrática 		RD 2012 Centre-left
to left-wing		 FSP
0 / 16
1 / 43
6 / 155
9 / 155
6 / 278
6 / 345
43 / 2,252
 Social Convergence[f]
Convergencia Social		 CS 2019 Left-wing Progressive International
0 / 16
0 / 43
4 / 155
6 / 155
3 / 278
2 / 345
51 / 2,252
 Commons[g]
Comunes		 Comunes 2019 Left-wing FSP
1 / 16
0 / 43
2 / 155
1 / 155
3 / 278
1 / 345
5 / 2,252
 Social Green Regionalist Federation[h]
Federación Regionalista Verde Social 		FREVS 2017 Centre-left
to left-wing		 None
0 / 16
0 / 43
3 / 155
4 / 155
3 / 278
1 / 345
49 / 2,252
 Christian Social Front
Frente Social Cristiano 		FSC 2021 Far-right None
0 / 16
0 / 43
3 / 155
4 / 155
1 / 278
0 / 345
12 / 2,252
 Republican Party
Partido Republicano de Chile		 PLR 2019 Far-right None
0 / 16
0 / 43
3 / 155
0 / 155
1 / 278
0 / 345
12 / 2,252
 Christian Conservative Party[i]
Partido Conservador Cristiano		 PCC 2020 Far-right None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
0 / 2,252
 Party of the People
Partido de la Gente		 PDG 2019 Centre-right
to right-wing		 None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
0 / 2,252
 Dignity Now
Dignidad Ahora 		DA 2020 Left-wing None
0 / 16
0 / 43
1 / 155
1 / 155
5 / 278
3 / 345
55 / 2,252
 Humanist Party[j]
Partido Humanista		 PH 1984 Left-wing IHP, FSP
0 / 16
0 / 43
1 / 155
0 / 155
4 / 278
2 / 345
27 / 2,252
 Equality Party[k]
Partido Igualdad 		PI 2009 Left-wing None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
1 / 155
1 / 278
1 / 345
25 / 2,252
 Green Ecologist Party[l]
Partido Ecologista Verde		 PEV 2008 Centre-left
to left-wing		 GG
1 / 16
0 / 43
1 / 155
0 / 155
1 / 278
0 / 345
46 / 2,252
 United Independents
Independientes Unidos 		IU 2021 Far-right[18]self proclaimedCentre None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
1 / 2,252
 United Center[m]
Centro Unido		 CU 2021 Centre None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
0 / 2,252
 National Citizen Party[n]
Partido Nacional Ciudadano		 PNC 2019 Far-right None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
1 / 2,252
 Revolutionary Workers Party[o]
Partido de Trabajadores Revolucionarios		 PTR 2017 Far-left FT-CI
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
1 / 2,252
 Patriotic Union[p]
Unión Patriotica		 UPA 2015 Far-left None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
1 / 2,252
 Progressive Party
Partido Progresista de Chile 		PRO 2010 Left-wing FSP
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
1 / 155
2 / 278
5 / 345
47 / 2,252
 New Time[q]
Nuevo Tiempo		 NT 2016 Right-wing None
0 / 16
0 / 43
0 / 155
0 / 155
0 / 278
0 / 345
0 / 2,252

Historical

Alliances

Active

Historical

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ A fusion of the Independent Regionalist Party (Partido Regionalista Independiente) and the Patagonian Regional Democracy (Democracia Regional Patagónica). Formerly known as ChileFirst (ChilePrimero).
  2. ^ Operates only in AP, TA, AN, VA, RM, BI, and LL.
  3. ^ Between 1994 and 2018 it was called the Social Democratic Radical Party for the fusion of the Chilean Social Democracy Party (Partido Socialdemocracia Chilena, founded 1971) and the Radical Party of Chile (Partido Radical de Chile, founded 1863). In 2018 the party regained the name "Radical Party."
  4. ^ Before October 2015, known as Fuerza Pública ("Public Force"); operates in all regions except AT, CO, LI, NB, BI, AR, and MA.
  5. ^ Operates in all regions except AP and MA.
  6. ^ Only operates in CO, VA, RM, LI, BI, LR, LL, and MA.
  7. ^ A fusion of the Poder Ciudadano and Poder Ciudadano del Norte parties; operates in all regions except ML, NB, BI, AR, LR, AI, and MA.
  8. ^ A fusion of Regional and Popular Front, Green North Regional Force, Social Agrarian Regionalist Independent Movement and We Are Aysén parties; operates in all regions except NB, LR, LL, and MA.
  9. ^ Operates only in NB, BI, AR, and MA.
  10. ^ Operates in all regions except LL and AI.
  11. ^ Operates in all regions except LI, LR, LL, AI, and MA.
  12. ^ Operates in all regions except AP, VA, ML, and AI.
  13. ^ Operates in all regions except AP, TA, AT, NB, LR, AI, and MA.
  14. ^ Operates only in AR, LR, and LL.
  15. ^ Operates only in AP, AN, VA, RM, AR, LR, and LL.
  16. ^ Operates only in VA, RM, LI, and BI
  17. ^ Operates only in AP, TA, and AN.
  1. ^ Ministerio del Interior de Chile (11 October 1973). "Decreto Ley 78" (PDF). www.bcn.cl. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
  2. ^ Ministerio del Interior de Chile (12 March 1977). "Declara disueltos los partidos políticos, entidades, agrupaciones, facciones o movimientos de carácter político no comprendidos en el Decreto Ley N° 77, de 1973". bcn.cl. Retrieved 17 November 2014.
  3. ^ Ministerio del Interior de Chile (11 September 1986). "Ley Orgánica Constitucional sobre Sistema de Inscripciones Electorales y Servicio Electoral". LeyChile. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  4. ^ Ministerio del Interior de Chile (11 March 1987). "Ley Orgánica Constitucional de los Partidos Políticos". LeyChile. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  5. ^ Servicio Electoral (23 December 1987). "Inscribe al Partido Nacional en el Registro de Partidos Políticos". bcn.cl. Retrieved 23 September 2016.
  6. ^ Servicio Electoral de Chile (2010). "Libro de Partidos Políticos" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
  7. ^ ""Explosión" de partidos políticos reconfigura el mapa electoral de cara a 2017". El Mercurio. 3 July 2016. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  8. ^ "Frente Amplio llega al Congreso como la gran sorpresa de estas elecciones". 24Horas.cl. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  9. ^ "Partidos Constituidos". Servicio Electoral (in Spanish). 11 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  10. ^ "Revisa el listado de gobernadores regionales a lo largo de Chile". www.facebook.com/teletrece.
  11. ^ "Actuales Senadores ordenados alfabéticamente". Senate of Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  12. ^ "Partidos Políticos". Chamber of Deputies of Chile (in Spanish). Retrieved 25 January 2021.
  13. ^ "RESULTADOS DE ELECCIONES".
  14. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-30. Retrieved 2020-03-12.((cite web)): CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  15. ^ "El mapa de las elecciones municipales: Cómo se repartieron las comunas del país las fuerzas políticas e independientes". Emol.com. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  16. ^ a b "Partidos Miembros".
  17. ^ a b "parties". www.idc-cdi.com.
  18. ^ Líbero, El. "Independientes Unidos: el popurrí de candidatos inscritos por el partido del Dr. File". El Líbero (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-01-07.

Bibliography

External links

Political parties in Chile
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List of political parties in the Americas
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