Chile's Embattled Democracy

Archive Report

Marxist Victory in Presidential Race

Latin Trend Reflected in Chile's Leftward Turn

When more than one-third of the voters of Chile cast their ballots for a Communist-Socialist coalition candidate for President on Sept. 4, they startled a world unaccustomed to the spectacle of a Marxist bidding for power in a free and fair election. The Marxist, Salvador Allende, finished first in a three-man presidential race at the head of a loose grouping of Socialists, Communists, Radicals, and splinter factions. The way was thus opened for him to become, on Nov. 1, the first Marxist voted in as head of a Free World nation. Many things could prevent him from taking office, or from serving a full six-year term. The first obstacle lay in the Chilean Congress, ...

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