CHILEAN CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS OF 5 MARCH 1961

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79S00427A000500010003-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 31, 2001
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: February 7, 1961
• Content Type: IM

Approved For Release 2001/08/08 :SEEKE'S00427A000500010003-1
n
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
7 February 1961
OCI No.0070/61
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Chilean congressional elections of
5 March 1961
Copy No. 35
1. Offices to be filled: All 147 seats in the
Chamber of Deputies for a four-year term and 25 of the
45 Senate seats for an eight-year term.
2. Background and principal issues: Inflation
has been a key election issue for the past several
years and now is the principal problem for conserva-
tive President Jorge Alessandri, who was elected in
1958. Side issues in the campaign will include the
new electoral law--which forbids party pacts in Cham-
ber of Deputies and municipal elections--education,
agrarian reform, and policy toward Cuba. The govern-
ment's approval in December of a 15-percent wage in-
crease and its success in holding the cost of living in
1960 to a 5.4-percent increase--the lowest in over a
decade--may strengthen the candidacy of Alessandri sup-
porters.
Parties participating:
A. Tending to support the conservative
Alessandri administration:
a. Conservative party: Party of land-
owners and established business interests; has strong
clerical sympathies. Pro-US. In coalition with the Lib-
eral party, it supported Alessandri in the 1958 pres-
idential elections, and was the third most popular party
in the April 1960 municipal elections.
Approved For Release 2001/08/(EeJtMP79S00427A000500010003-1
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08 SECVRRYDS00427A000500010003-1
b. Liberal party: Conservative,
well-financed party business and professional
men, plus a segment of the large landowners. Or-
ganized in the mid-19th century by Conservative dis-
sidents who opposed the church-state alliance. Lais-
sez faire in economics. Pro-US. Its adherents ran
second in the April 1960 municipal elections.
c. Christian Democratic part : Or-
ganized in mid-1957 through an amalgamation of the
Falangist and Social Christian Conservative parties,
it represents primarily intellectuals, young middle-
class professional elements, and some working groups.
It derives its social attitudes from encyclicals of
the Roman Catholic Church. Pro-US. Claims to pro-
vide "constructive opposition" to the Alessandri gov-
ernment. Fourth most popular party in April 1960
elections.
d. Radical party: Historically a
moderately leftist party supported principally by the
lower and middle classes. It has cooperated generally
with the incumbent administration; endorses government
planning and control in all economic areas; favors re-
establishment of commercial and cultural relations with
the Communist bloc. Chile's most popular party in the
April 1960 municipal elections.
B. Tending to oppose the conservative Ales-
sandri administration:
a. Popular Action Front (FRAP): Organ-
ized in February 195 , FRAP is a far-left coalition com-
prising the Socialist, Communist, National Democratic,
and National Vanguard of the People parties. Senatorial
candidates can run under a FRAP pact, but party pacts are
forbidden for the lower house elections. The March elec-
tions will be first congressional test for the Communist
party since it was legalized in 1958. The Socialist party,
which usually follows the Communist line, is Chile's fifth
most popular party and most militant political organiza-
tion. The Communist party was the sixth most popular
party in the April 1960 elections, polling 10 percent of
the popular vote.
Approved For Release 2001/08/0 jE79S00427A000500010003-1
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08 : - PPS00427A000500010003-1
mss'
4. Present party strengths:*
a. Parties advocating radical changes:
Senate
Chamber of
Deputies
Communist
0
6
Socialist
8
13
National
Vanguard of
the People** 0
3
National Democratic Party 8
11
b. Parties advocating moderate changes:
Radical
9
36
Christian Democratic
3
22
c.
Parties advocating minimal changes:
Conservative
6
22
Liberal
9
34
Proportional representation electoral
system is used in Chile.
*Only eight major parties are listed, because re-
cent mergers and defections have blurred the strength
of less significant parties.
**Former Labor party.
Approved For Release 2001/08/OESOP
79S00427A000500010003-1
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08CAW9S00427A000500010003-1
11W, IRW
. Informed opinion on outcome: The Communists
are expected to increase their congressional representa-
tion at the expense of other leftist parties. Social-
ists are not expected to gain any new seats. Moderate
and conservative politicians--supporters of the economic
stabilization program--may increase their dominance of
the Chamber of Deputies. It is not expected that the
Approved For Release 2001/08/EZP79S00427A000500010003-1
 Approved For Release 2001/08/08j79S00427A 00500010003-1 NOW WW
Radical-Conservative-Liberal control of the Senate will
be threatened. The most important race is the Allende-
Barros-Martinez contest in Valparaiso-Aconcagua District.
A defeat could eliminate Allende from presidential con-
sideration in 1964.
7. Significance for the US: An increase in
representation for those parties supporting the eco-
nomic stabilization would be favorable for US-Chilean
relations, since these parties are usually friendlier
toward the US. Furthermore, continued success of the
economic program may reduce Chilean interest in press-
ing for US financial aid and could counteract leftist
influence to some extent.
HUNTINGTON D. SHELDON
Assistant Director
Current Intelligence
Orig: WEST DIV
25X1A
Ext. 4527
Dist: CIA INTERNAL ONLY
Approved For Release 2001/08/08sEe V9S00427A000500010003-1