Fifty Years On, U.S-Backed Coup in Chile Stirs Divisions

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Fifty Years On, U.S-Backed Coup in Chile Stirs Divisions

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The country’s leftist president is set to honor the late Salvador Allende, but many Chileans blame the Marxist leader for his own ouster in 1973.

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Daniel Mansuy, author of the book “The Chilean Left and the Popular Unity,” argues that the government should learn from the mistakes of Allende's presidency. He says that it is difficult to reconcile the Allende of September 11, 1973, with the Allende who was president, a man who had many leadership and governance problems.

Political analysts say Chilean President Gabriel Boric had hoped the coup anniversary would rally his supporters after a corruption scandal and referendum defeat. However, Boric's approval rating fell to 28% this month (09/2023), from 32% in August, according to a Criteria poll.

Documents released from the Nixon administration show that the United States deliberately sabotaged Chile's economy and funded opposition groups in an attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende.

For left-wing activists around the world, Allende is considered a hero, they believe the coup and his death were a sign of American imperialism during the Cold War. But in Chile opinions remain much more divided.

The memory of Salvador Allende remains divided, with some Chileans celebrating him as a hero and others remembering him as a failed leader.

A recent poll by the Chilean firm Mori found that public opinion on the 1973 coup has shifted in recent years. While 63% of Chileans believed that the coup destroyed democracy in 2013, only 42% believe this today. Additionally, 36% of Chileans now say that the coup freed Chile from Marxism, up from 18% in 2013.

As Chile marks the 50th anniversary of the coup that overthrew democratically elected President Salvador Allende, the events of that day and the subsequent 17-year dictatorship continue to be a source of pain and division in the country.

An opinion poll by Pulso Ciudadano found that 56.5% of Chileans care little or nothing about the commemoration of the coup, and more Chileans blame Allende than the Chilean army or the United States for the coup.

A recent poll by the Chilean firm Criteria found that 55% of respondents viewed the coup commemoration as divisive.

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09

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10

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2023

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12

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The Wall Street Journal

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Chile commemorates 50th anniversary of civil-military coup

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https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/fifty-years-on-u-s-backed-coup-in-chile-stirs-divisions-e0217b6f

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A recent poll by the Chilean firm Criteria found that 55% of respondents viewed the coup commemoration as divisive.

News

The memory of Salvador Allende remains divided, with some Chileans celebrating him as a hero and others remembering him as a failed leader.

News

An opinion poll by Pulso Ciudadano found that 56.5% of Chileans care little or nothing about the commemoration of the coup, and more Chileans blame Allende than the Chilean army or the United States for the coup.

News