44-539: Gabriel Enrique González Videla ( Latin American Spanish: [ɡaˈβɾjel ɣonˈsales βiˈðela] ; 22 November 1898 – 22 August 1980) was a Chilean politician and lawyer who served as the 24th president of Chile from 1946 to 1952. He had previously been a member of the Chamber of Deputies from 1930 to 1941 and senator for Tarapacá and Antofagasta from 1945 to 1946. A long-time member and leader in
88-574: A freemason in 1924. In 1915, González joined the youth wing of the Radical Party , later becoming a member of the Radical Assembly of La Serena. González was involved in protests against the military government established in 1924 by Luis Altamirano . In 1927, he made declarations against President Carlos Ibáñez and had to go into hiding. Once Ibáñez's government fell in 1931, González was able to resume his political activities and
132-548: A continuing moratorium on peasant unionization. He sought to remove any ideological justification for a military coup. He also wanted to weaken the labor movement in a time of economic uncertainties, slow growth, and rising inflation while the PCCh was promoting strikes. González Videla's banning of the Communists coincided with his movement away from social reform in favor of the promotion of industrial growth. Economic links with
176-575: A new Constitution of Chile during Pinochet's presidency. When his work there was finished, González completely retired from politics and died of cardiac arrest on 22 August 1980, in Santiago . President of Chile The President of Chile ( Spanish : Presidente de Chile ), officially known as the President of the Republic of Chile ( Spanish : Presidente de la República de Chile ),
220-457: A person can run for candidacy if they have not previously served as president. The incumbent president, in accordance with the constitution, completes their corresponding term on 11 March of the immediate year after the election. The president-elect takes office the same day. If the President is unable to perform his or her duties, the President's powers are usually temporarily transferred to
264-414: A six-year term, without an immediate reelection. Under the 2005 constitutional reform, the president serves for four years without the possibility of immediate reelection for one more term. A former president may run for office once again after serving their initial term, but only in an election following their successor, as it is not allowed to run for consecutive terms. There is no limit to how many times
308-483: A symbol of the authority of the first president with the assumption of office by President José Joaquín Prieto in 1831. It is composed of three stripes with the colors of the Chilean flag, it is sewn by hand and measured approximately 75 cm (30 in) long and 13 cm (5.1 in) wide. From the nineteenth century a single sash was maintained that was transferred from president to president until 1915, due to
352-431: Is also considered one of the key institutions that form the "Historic Constitution of Chile," and is crucial to the country's political stability. Under the current Constitution , adopted in 1980 , the president serves a four-year term and is not eligible for immediate re-election. The shorter term (previously it was six years) allows for synchronized parliamentary and presidential elections. The president's official seat
396-520: Is the La Moneda Palace in the capital Santiago . Michelle Bachelet was the first female president of Chile and served from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018. Since 2022, Gabriel Boric is the current president, having won the 2021 Chilean general election and taking office on 11 March 2022. The origins of Chile as a nation can be traced to 1541, when it was separated from the existing Viceroyalty of Peru by King Charles I , creating
440-467: Is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Chile . The president is responsible for both government administration and state administration. Although its role and significance have changed over time , and its position and relations with other actors in the national political organization have also evolved, it remains one of the most prominent political offices in the country. It
484-585: The Minister of the Interior under the title of " Vice President ". However, this is not a substantive position. Rather, the holder of the position fulfills the duties of the President only for as long as the President is incapacitated or a vacancy occurs. If the President and the Minister of the Interior are both temporarily unavailable, the next minister of the government, in the order of succession, becomes
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#1732780767349528-464: The Radical Party , he left the party in 1971 over its support for socialist president Salvador Allende . From 1973 until his death in 1980 he became an active collaborator and participant in the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet , acting as vice president of the Council of State from 1976 onwards. As vice president of the council, he helped draft the current Chilean constitution of 1980 . González
572-527: The liberals , which approved of his anti-communist stance. He constructed a new cabinet made up of conservatives, liberals, radicals, some socialists, and members of the small Democratic Party. The Communist Party remained illegal until 1958. Controversy still swirls around the reasons for his aboutface. According to González Videla and his sympathizers, the repression of the Communists was necessary to thwart their plots against his government, but no evidence has been found to substantiate that claim. According to
616-550: The "Vice President". The consent of the Senate is required for the Vice President to exercise the duties of the President. A partial constitutional amendment in 2011 established the order of presidential succession in the order of Minister of the Interior, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of National Defense. Names of incumbents as of 2023 : The presidential sash , used initially by Bernardo O'Higgins , became
660-783: The 1948 Law of Permanent Defense of Democracy ( Spanish : Ley de Defensa Permanente de la Democracia ), which banned communist and like-minded parties. He also broke relations with the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact countries. Many key communist figures decided to flee the country, including poet Pablo Neruda , who had decried González Videla on the Senate Floor for "selling out to the United States." The communists that remained were arrested, but were not subjected to torture or execution. A pro-communist miners' strike in Lota
704-488: The Chilean Constitution. Article 26 detail the electoral requirements. The president shall be elected by direct ballot, with an absolute majority of the votes validly cast. A two-round system is used. In order to win the election in the first round, the winning candidate's party must receive more than 50 percent of the valid votes leaving out of the count blank and spoiled votes. The election shall be held
748-473: The Communists and other critics of González Videla, he acted under pressure from the United States and out of a desire to forge closer economic and military bonds with the dominant superpower. Historians have established that the president wanted to appease the United States, the United States encouraged a crackdown on Chilean Communists, and the US government appreciated González Videla's actions and thereafter expanded
792-506: The Interior, Jerónimo Méndez as vice-president and died soon after, on 25 November 1941. Presidential elections were called for 1 February 1942. Two days before the internal primaries of the Radical Party, Gabriel González Videla, who represented the Radical Party's more leftist faction, returned to Chile to dispute the nomination to Juan Antonio Ríos . The results were too close to call, so a tribunal of honor (electoral commission)
836-453: The United States, which had grown after the economic crisis of the 1930s, were strengthened after World War II; U.S. investments in Chile increased from $ 414,000,000 in 1945 to $ 540,000,000 in 1950, largely in copper production. By 1952 the United States had loaned $ 342,000,000 to the Chilean government. The exchange of technicians and professors helped tighten technical and cultural links between
880-410: The exceptional possibility of his reelection in the 1988 plebiscite . Then, in the transition to democracy the 1989 referendum established a first transitional four-year presidential term (1990–1994), followed by common eight-year terms, without the possibility of immediate reelection. However, in 4 March 1994 (a week before Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle took office) the presidential period was reduced to
924-474: The first election, limited to the two candidates with the highest relative majorities. Then, the candidate with the majority of valid votes in that round is elected president. Previously, under the 1925 constitution, the Congress of Chile elected the president in the run-off, including (notably) in the 1970 Chilean presidential election . Under the 1828 constitution, the president served for four years, without
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#1732780767349968-506: The first woman ambassador and created the Oficina de la Mujer . During his presidency, he became the first chief of state of any nation to visit Antarctica. The Chilean Gonzalez Videla Antarctic Base is named after him. After his term ended in 1952, his name was mentioned in the party primaries in 1958, though he announced he would not seek the presidency. In 1964, he actively campaigned for radical presidential candidate Julio Durán , who
1012-455: The head of the operation, General Ramón Vergara . Ibáñez, however, was absolved of all responsibility. This plan became known as the Pig trotters' plot ( Spanish : Complot de las patitas de chancho ), because the coup leaders met in a restaurant which specialized in this Chilean dish. After outlawing the Communists, he ruled with the support of the two right-wing parties, the conservatives and
1056-493: The height differences between the outgoing Ramón Barros Luco and the elected Juan Luis Sanfuentes , so a new sash had to be designed. Since that date, each president has had his or her own presidential sash, which is used only in official ceremonies. The O'Higgins Pioche , which is considered the symbol of presidential power and is placed at the lower end of the presidential sash, is a star of five ends of about 7 cm (2.8 in) in diameter, enameled in red. It dates back to
1100-643: The image of royalty that carriages now confer, used the black 1966 Ford Galaxie XL convertible acquired in 1968 for Queen Elizabeth II's visit to Chile as his official vehicle with a normally issued license plate (EL-2801). Both the carriage and the Galaxie have since been maintained by the state and are now used only for official ceremonies, such as state visits and the national holidays on 21 May and 19 September, and presidential inaugurations which take place on 11 March every four years. Juan Antonio R%C3%ADos Too Many Requests If you report this error to
1144-663: The medals of the Legion of Merit and remained intact until the coup d'état of 1973, when it disappeared during the bombing of the La Moneda palace. During the military regime of Augusto Pinochet a replica of the pioche was created, based on photographs of the original. It is only used together with the presidential sash. The president of Chile traditionally used an elegant horse drawn "Bandeja" Carriage imported from France by President José Manuel Balmaceda for ceremonial events until president Salvador Allende , not wanting to project
1188-474: The new Kingdom of Chile . The head of state continued to be the king, but he was represented locally by the Royal Governor . The Constitution of 1980 , with its 2005 amendment, outlines the qualifications for becoming president. To be eligible, the individual must be a natural-born Chilean citizen or born abroad to Chilean parents or grandparents. They must also be at least 35 years old and meet all
1232-700: The outlawing of the Communist Party . The Socialists were now opposed to the Communists and aligned with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) having grown closer to United States labor interests during World War II. Once in the presidency, González Videla had a fallout with his Communist allies. They demanded more cabinet seats, which González Videla refused to grant. The Communist Party then withdrew their support for him. In response, he first expelled them from his cabinet and then banned them completely under
1276-417: The popular front could not be reconstituted. In the end, González only gained a plurality with the support of his own Radical Party and the Communist Party . In the presidential elections , González won 40% of the vote, defeating right-wing candidates Eduardo Cruz-Coke and Fernando Alessandri and socialist Bernardo Ibáñez . Since González did not reach the necessary 50%, the election went to Congress. He
1320-446: The possibility of immediate reelection for one more term. In 1833, the presidential period was changed to five years, with a possibility of immediate reelection for one more term, limited to two consecutive terms. Then by a constitutional reform in 1878, possibility for reelection became disallowed. Under the 1925 constitution, the president served for a six-year term, without the possibility of immediate reelection. Non-consecutive election
1364-522: The radicals immediately declared their support for the protesters' demands. The right-wingers responded by resigning from González's cabinet. By losing both liberal and conservative support, González lost the pro-government majority in Congress. He was unable to achieve much thereafter, but he managed to make significant improvements on women's rights. González's cabinet had the first woman minister in Latin America ( Adriana Olguín ), and he appointed
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1408-488: The requirements for becoming a Senator . In addition, the president must have the right to vote as a fully Chilean citizen , which includes being at least 18 years of age, not having been sentenced to a severe punishment, not having lost the right to vote due to insanity, not having been tried or condemned for a serious crime or terrorist conduct, nor condemned by the Constitutional Court under Article 8 of
1452-423: The right to vote in 1949. In the parliamentary elections of 1949, the pro-government parties triumphed. However, the unity between right-wing parties and radicals and socialists did not last long. Radicals were unhappy with the economic policies of the right-wing Finance Minister, Jorge Alessandri , no matter how successful they were in controlling inflation. When a protest by government employees broke out in 1950,
1496-510: The scope of its loans, investments, and technical missions to Chile. The US and Chile also agreed to a military assistance pact while González Videla was president. However, no conclusive evidence has come to light that the US directly pushed him to act. Although González Videla feared Communist intentions and respected the wishes of the US government, he also turned against the PCCh for other reasons. He hoped to mollify right-wing critics of his government, especially landowners to whom he guaranteed
1540-399: The third Sunday of November of the year immediately before the end of the administration of the president then holding office. Should there be more than two candidates in the presidential election, none of them obtaining more than half of the votes validly cast, a new election shall be held. The second election ("balloting"), in the manner determined by law, shall be held the fourth Sunday after
1584-538: The two countries. The presidency of González Videla saw the strong political recovery of the right. Between 1940 and 1952, Chile's population rose from 5,000,000 to 6,350,000, with the strongest increase in urban areas, which accounted for 52 percent of the total population in 1940 and 60 percent in 1952. Production rose by a rate very close to the rise in population. Social inequities were not reduced significantly, however, although some reforms were carried out, with social security extended to more Chileans, and women granted
1628-457: Was also anti-communist. González's influence in a now more left-leaning Radical Party was decreasing, and in 1971 he resigned from the party, angered by its support for socialist Salvador Allende . González undertook a significant role in the opposition to Allende and supported Augusto Pinochet 's 1973 coup which deposed Allende. González was vice president of the Council of State which drafted
1672-580: Was born in the coastal city of La Serena on 22 November 1898, to parents Gabriel González Castillo and Teresa Videla Zepeda, who were of Spanish descent. He was the oldest of eighteen children. After graduating from the Liceo de La Serena , González went on to study law at the University of Chile . He graduated in 1922, the same year his father became paralyzed. As a result of his father's paralysis, González returned to La Serena to help his family. He became
1716-484: Was brutally suppressed. Demonstrations against what the communists called la ley maldita ("the damned law") led to the declaration of martial law, but were successfully repressed. In 1948, González Videla also learned of a plot by some members of the Armed Forces to lead a coup against him and install Carlos Ibáñez as president. He immediately ordered an investigation and the arrest of the coup leaders, including
1760-611: Was constituted, and Juan Antonio Ríos was finally proclaimed the candidate of the left-wing coalition. This Democratic Alliance ( Spanish : Alianza Democratica ) was formed by the Radical Party , the Socialist Party , the Communist Party , the Democratic Party and the Workers' Socialist Party . Ríos went on to win the general election with 56% of the votes and took office on 2 April. In 1945, González Videla
1804-642: Was duly confirmed on October 24 that year. Gabriel González Videla's first cabinets, between 1946 and 1948, included Communist ministers; but the international Cold War and Chile's internal troubles soon pushed González Videla toward the right. Chile quickly became enmeshed in the Cold War, as Moscow and especially Washington meddled in its affairs. That friction resulted in the splitting of the CTCh (the Worker's union) in 1946 into Communist and Socialist branches and then
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1848-623: Was elected senator for the provinces of Tarapacá and Antofagasta and represented Chile at the United Nations conference in San Francisco. González Videla finally won the Radical Party primaries in 1946. He attempted to revive the Democratic Alliance that brought Juan Antonio Ríos to power in 1942 but was unsuccessful in this endeavor, as the Socialist Party denounced the offer of alliance, refused to join and
1892-420: Was possible, as seen with Jorge Alessandri (president 1958-1964) running a close second in the momentous election of 1970 , although ultimately it did not occur. In the original text of the 1980 constitution, the president served for an eight-year term without the possibility of immediate reelection. Some transitory disposals, fixed during the military dictatorship of the general Augusto Pinochet , allowed
1936-606: Was president of the Radical Party from 1931 to 1937. González was elected deputy for the district comprising La Serena, Coquimbo , Elqui, Ovalle, Combarbalá, and Illapel in 1930. However, the coup led by socialist Marmaduque Grove in 1932 dissolved Congress. González was once again elected deputy for this same area in 1933 and reelected in 1937. In 1939 he resigned because President Pedro Aguirre Cerda named him ambassador to France first, then to Portugal (1940), and finally to Brazil (1942). In 1941, due to his rapidly escalating illness, President Aguirre Cerda appointed his minister of
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