Alliance for Chile

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Joaquín Lavín, leader of Independent Democratic Union
Joaquín Lavín, leader of Independent Democratic Union
Sebastián Piñera, leader of National Renewal
Sebastián Piñera, leader of National Renewal

The Alliance for Chile (Spanish: "Alianza por Chile"), also known as La Alianza (The Alliance), is a coalition of center-right Chilean political parties. It includes the National Renewal (Renovación Nacional, RN) and the Independent Democratic Union (Unión Democrática Independiente, UDI). In the past it has included the regional Party of the South (Partido del Sur) and the Progressive Union of the Centrist Center (Unión de Centro Centro Progresista, UCCP), both of which are now defunct.

Major leaders of the Alliance have included Jovino Novoa (UDI), Pablo Longueira (UDI), Jaime Guzmán (UDI), Joaquín Lavín (UDI), Sebastián Piñera (RN), Lily Pérez (RN), Andrés Allamand (RN), Sergio Onofre (RN), and Sergio Romero (RN).

The Alliance is the only major opposition to the incumbent government with representation in Congress. They are considered right-wing in many aspects, especially the economy, but as its current name expresses, they have taken a broader approach: concentrating efforts in the middle class and poor, gaining electoral victories in districts formerly thought to be very strong supporters of the Concertación, but keeping most of the votes in the districts traditionally associated with them in the northeast of Santiago, which are considered as upper class.

The UDI's intention was to nominate only one candidate for the election and there was a fierce debate when RN nominated its own candidate. However, the leadership of the two parties agreed to support the other's candidate if the election proceeded to a runoff.

The alliance has existed since 1989, under different names. Before 2000, it went by the following names:

  • Democracia y Progreso (Democracy and Progress) (1989-1992)
  • Participación y Progreso (Participation and Progress) (1992-1993)
  • Unión por el Progreso (Union for the Progress) (1993-1996)
  • Unión por Chile (Union for Chile) (1996-2000)

[edit] Electoral results

Chamber of Deputies election
Year % votes Seats
1989 (as Democracy and Progress) 34,18 48 of 120
1993 (as Union for the Progress) 36,68 50 of 120
1997 (as Union for Chile) 36,26 47 of 120
2001 (as Alliance for Chile) 44,27 57 of 120
Municipal election
Year % votes
1992 (as Participation and Progress) 29,67
1996 (as Union for Chile) 32,47
2000 (as Union for Chile) 40,09
2004 (as Alliance for Chile) 37,66

[edit] See also

[edit] External links