SALVADOR ALLENDE

Salvador Allende Gossens (Spanish pronunciation: [salβaˈðoɾ aˈʝende ˈɣosens]; 26 July 1908 – 11 September 1973) was a Chilean physician and politician who is generally considered the first democratically elected Marxist to become president of a country in Latin America. Allende's involvement in Chilean political life spanned a period of nearly forty years. As a member of the Socialist Party, he was a senator, deputy and cabinet minister. He unsuccessfully ran for the presidency in the 1952, 1958, and 1964 elections. In 1970, he won the presidency in a close three-way race. Allende adopted the policy of nationalisation of industries and collectivisation. Amidst strikes by the far-right Patria y Libertad and CIA opposition under the Nixon administration, demonstrations were held both for and against Allende's presidency. On 11 September 1973 the military staged a coup against Allende. As the armed forces surrounded La Moneda Palace, Allende gave his last speech vowing not to resign,. He subsequently committed suicide. After Allende's ouster Chile was led by a military junta, and then as a dictatorship by General Augusto Pinochet.