National Democratic Party
Partido Democrático Nacional
Founded18 September 1960
Dissolved18 May 1999
Split fromDemocratic Party
HeadquartersSantiago de Chile
IdeologySocial liberalism
Populism
Political positionCentre

The National Democratic Party (Partido Democrático Nacional), known by its acronym PADENA, was a Chilean political party. This party was one of the last political movements linked to the figure of President Carlos Ibáñez del Campo.

History

It was founded in 1960 by the merger of the Democratic Party, a small faction of the Radical Doctrinal Party, part of the People's National Party (PANAPO), the Democratic Socialist Party and the Social Democratic Party.

It initially participated in the FRAP until Ibáñez' retirement in 1965. The party supported the presidential candidacy of Salvador Allende in 1964, but several parliamentarians withdrew to form the New Democratic Left, which supported Eduardo Frei.

In 1970, the party supported the presidential candidacy of Radomiro Tomic of the Christian Democratic Party in opposition to Allende and Popular Unity. It joined the Confederation of Democracy in 1973.

Refoundation, division, and failed legalisation (1983-1999)

After the 1973 coup d'etat, PADENA entered in political recess and some of its members served in public offices during the military dictatorship. It was refounded in 1983, but two factions were created: one led by Luis Minchel, who opposed the dictatorship, and another led by Apolonides Parra which supported the military regime. Parra's faction in 1984 was part of the Group of Eight and later the National Democratic Agreement.[citation needed]

In 1985, it signed the National Agreement for the Transition to Full Democracy. On 31 January 1986 the faction led by Parra was part of the Frente Democrático de Concordia (FREDECO) along with the Social Democracy Party, the Radical Democracy, the Social Christian Movement, the Radical Civic Union, the Social Democratic Labour Movement, the Javiera Carrera Movement and the Arturo Matte Civic Center.[1]

PADENA emblem, 1988-1998.

In 1988, the faction led by Minchel supported the "No" option on the national plebiscite. However, the Parra faction disagreed with Parra and formed the Democratic Party of Chile (PADECH), which supported the "Yes" option and then dissolved and became part of National Renewal. On 2 February 1988, it signed the statement of formation of the Concertación, but it did not get the number of signatures required for its legalisation and was disbanded by the Electoral Service on 12 September of that year.[2]

The PADENA emblem was a rectangular white flag with navy blue trim, and in the center of this a red anvil appeared.[3]

In the 1990s, four attempts were made to legalise PADENA again. These were all unsuccessful due to the refusal of the Electoral Service. The party failed to comply with the legal requirements within the stipulated time frame:[2]

Presidential candidates

Presidential candidates supported by the National Democratic Party.[5]

References

  1. ^ Vicaría de la Solidaridad (February 1986). "Resumen de Prensa" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  2. ^ a b Servicio Electoral de Chile (2010). "Libro de Partidos Políticos" (PDF) (in Spanish). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  3. ^ Servicio Electoral de Chile (7 February 1994). "Resolución 432: Constitución del partido político "Partido Democrático Nacional"" (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  4. ^ Servicio Electoral de Chile (18 May 1999). "Resolución 620: Declara caducidad del derecho a inscripción del Partido Democrático Nacional" (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Archive of Chilean Elections" (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 August 2016.
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