Arturo Alessandri
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| Arturo Alessandri Palma | |
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| In office May 10, 1920 – July 26, 1924 |
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| Vice President(s) | Luis Altamirano |
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| Preceded by | Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
| Succeeded by | Luis Altamirano |
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| In office December 24, 1932 – December 24, 1938 |
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| Preceded by | Abraham Oyanedel |
| Succeeded by | Pedro Aguirre Cerda |
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| Born | December 20, 1868 Longaví, Linares Province, Chile |
| Died | August 24, 1950 Santiago, Chile |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Spouse | Rosa Ester Rodríguez |
Arturo Fortunato Alessandri Palma (December 20, 1868–August 24, 1950) was a Chilean political figure and reformer, who served twice as the President of Chile, first between 1920 and 1924, and then again in 1925, and finally from 1932 until 1938.
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[edit] Early life
He was son of Pedro Alessandri Vargas, son of an Italian immigrant, and Susana Palma Guzmán. His father was dedicated to the agricultural labor of the estate in which he lived. At the age of 12 he entered the Sacred School of Hearts of the French Parents, where his brothers were studying and is father had studied.
He began a law career in the University of Chile at the age of 20, graduating in 1893. In 1891, while studying, he participated in the newspaper "La Justicia", which was in opposition to the President of the time, José Manuel Balmaceda. After graduating as a lawyer, he married Rosa Ester Rodríguez Velasco, with whom he had 9 children.
He began his political life in 1897, entering the Liberal Party, and assuming as the representative of Curicó, where he would be re-elected for almost 20 years. In 1915, already showing his first presidential aspirations, he challenges the senator of the province of Tarapacá, Arturo del Río. Alessandri wins a disputed and violent election, from where he won the nickname of León de Tarapacá (Lion of Tarapaca), due to his charisma, his popularity with the people and his abilities of speech.
In 1920 he ran for President of the Republic for the Liberal Alliance, defeating by a narrow margin his opponent of the Coalition (now named the National Union since it incorporated the Conservative Party) Luis Barros Borgoño. With his speeches favoring the working class, he caused great fear in the more conservative sectors of Chilean society, which saw its interests in jeopardy. Since the opposition controlled the National Congress, Alessandri favored strengthening the executive power, which lacked political weight before the Congress (Parliamentary Era).
[edit] First administration
During most of 1924, Chile had been politically paralyzed by a conflict between the President and the conservatively controlled Congress, who refused to enact the laws that he submitted. On September 3, 1924 a group of 56 military officers protested for their low salaries, in the incident known as the saber-rattling (ruido de sables). The next day the same group of young military officers led by Colonel Marmaduque Grove and Major Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, created the "military committee" to defend themselves from the government. On September 5, the "military committee" demanded of President Alessandri the dismissal of three of his ministers, including the Minister of War; the enactment of a labor code, the passage of an income tax law, and the improvement of the military salaries. Alessandri had no option but to appoint General Luis Altamirano, the Army Inspector General, as head of a new cabinet. On September 8, General Altamirano appeared in front of Congress to demand the passage of eight laws, including Alessandri's labor code. Congress didn't dare to protest, and the laws were passed in a matter of hours.
At that point, Alessandri felt that he had become just a pawn of the military and on September 9, he resigned, and requested assylum at the US Embassy. Congress refused to accept his resignation, and instead granted him a six-month constitutional leave of absence. He left the country immediately for Italy. On September 11th, a military Junta was established to rule the country in his absence.
[edit] Second administration
His second government began with the support of left-wing and radical groups. This second group began to distance itself from the President, causing him to try and maintain a right-wing-radical alliance until 1937, when it took a turn towards the left. In order to face the threats of a coup, Alessandri relied on the republican forces, entrusted with repressing any intent to revolt and never to get involved in politics. They were created shortly before Alessandri's return, as a consequence of the civil movement. They functioned in secret and then publicly, marching in a great parade May 7, 1933 in front of the President, who saluted them. They auto-disbanded in 1936, having considered their mission complete. The President asked the Parliament on several opportunities for the state of constitutional exception, resulting in illegal actions, such as the famous burning of the Topaze Magazine issue No. 285, which depicted a caricature of Alessandri he considered offensive.
Such precautions were not without reason, especially considering the appearance of new violent occurrences, such as the rural rebellion of Ránquil and their bloody repression, and the National-Socialist Movement of Chile of Jorge González von Marées and of Nazi tendencies.
In the economic sphere, the recovery of the crisis of 1929 was begun with the work of the Treasury Minister Gustavo Ross, a pragmatic liberal who implemented a "towards in" approach to growth. With respect to nitrates, he dissolved COSACH and created the COVENSA (Corporation of Nitrate and Iodine Sale), a multi-faceted distributor and not a producer. He balanced the fiscal deficit with new taxes and resumed payment of the external debt, with losses for holders of Chilean bonds. When they reached a surplus, they focused on public works. The construction of the National Stadium in Santiago, inaugurated in December of 1938, stands out.
[edit] Public life after the presidency
His political life does not culminate with his presidency. Due to the death of the communist Senator for Curico, Talca, Linares and Maule, Amador Pairoa, he participates in a complementary Senatorial election and achieves victory, returning November 8 to the Senate. In 1949 he is reelected but this time for Santiago, while also chosen to be President of this body.
He was of vital importance in the presidential elections of 1942 and 1946, in the first by causing the division of votes of the liberals, supporting Juan Antonio Ríos, and in the second by presenting himself as a preliminary candidate of the liberals. He later yielded his candidacy to his son Fernando, resulting in the division of the presidential candidates of the right and conservative support for Dr. Eduardo Cruz-Coke, in turn favoring the victory of Gabriel González Videla. Acting as President of the Senate, Arturo Alessandri dies at the age of 82, on August 24, 1950.
His son, Jorge Alessandri, was president of Chile from 1958 to 1964.
[edit] Additional information
[edit] See also
- Alessandri family
- San Gregorio massacre
- Marusia massacre
- La Coruña massacre
- Seguro Obrero massacre
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Juan Luis Sanfuentes |
President of Chile 1920-1924 |
Succeeded by Luis Altamirano |
| Preceded by Abraham Oyanedel |
President of Chile 1932-1938 |
Succeeded by Pedro Aguirre Cerda |
| Presidents of Chile |  |
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