Concertación

Concertación. The Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia (Coalition of Parties for Democracy) was a center-left political coalition in Chile that governed the country from the return to democracy in 1990 until 2010. Formed to oppose the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, it successfully transitioned into a stable governing force, overseeing a period of significant economic growth and democratic consolidation. Its four consecutive presidential terms were led by Patricio Aylwin, Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle, Ricardo Lagos, and Michelle Bachelet.

History

The coalition originated in 1988 as the Concertación de Partidos por el No, a broad alliance formed to campaign for the "No" option in the 1988 Chilean national plebiscite, which ultimately ended the rule of Augusto Pinochet. Key founding parties included the Christian Democratic Party (PDC), the Party for Democracy (PPD), the Socialist Party (PS), and the Radical Social Democratic Party (PRSD). Following the successful plebiscite, the coalition reorganized as the Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia to contest the 1989 Chilean presidential election, nominating Patricio Aylwin as its candidate. Its formation was crucial in uniting historically divided center-left factions, including former opponents from the Popular Unity era, under a common democratic platform to ensure a peaceful transition.

Political composition and structure

The Concertación was a multi-party coalition without a single, unified leadership structure, operating through negotiation and consensus among its member parties. Its core consisted of the centrist Christian Democratic Party (PDC) and the center-left Socialist Party (PS), which formed the principal axis of power. Other significant members included the Party for Democracy (PPD), founded by Ricardo Lagos, and the Radical Social Democratic Party (PRSD). Smaller groups like the Social Democrat Radical Party and, at times, the Christian Left also participated. The coalition selected its presidential candidates through internal primaries and distributed cabinet positions and congressional candidacies according to negotiated quotas among the member parties.

Electoral performance and governments

The coalition won four consecutive presidential elections, maintaining control of La Moneda Palace for two decades. Patricio Aylwin won the 1989 Chilean presidential election, followed by Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle in the 1993 election. In the 1999-2000 Chilean presidential election, Ricardo Lagos secured victory in a runoff against Joaquín Lavín of the Independent Democratic Union (UDI). Michelle Bachelet then triumphed in the 2005-06 Chilean presidential election. Throughout this period, the Concertación consistently held majorities in the Chamber of Deputies and performed strongly in elections for the Senate, though it never achieved a supermajority to reform the 1980 Constitution penned under Augusto Pinochet. Its era ended with the victory of Sebastián Piñera of the Coalition for Change in the 2009-10 Chilean presidential election.

Policies and political positions

The coalition's governance was characterized by a pragmatic, social-democratic approach that balanced market economics with progressive social reforms. It maintained the core neoliberal economic model established under the Chicago Boys but implemented policies to reduce poverty and inequality, such as significant increases in social spending. Key achievements included the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission under Patricio Aylwin and the introduction of health reforms like AUGE (Explicit Health Guarantees). Governments under Ricardo Lagos and Michelle Bachelet pursued educational reforms, including the creation of the Superintendency of Education, and signed numerous free trade agreements with countries like the United States, China, and the European Union. Its foreign policy generally aligned with Western democracies and regional bodies like the Organization of American States.

Legacy and impact

The Concertación is widely credited with successfully managing Chile's democratic transition, ensuring political stability, and fostering sustained economic growth that significantly reduced poverty rates. Its model of center-left coalition governance became a defining feature of Chilean politics. However, its legacy is also marked by criticism for failing to adequately address deep-seated inequality, fully reform the Pinochet-era constitution, and dismantle structures like the binominal system. This perceived complacency contributed to the rise of new social movements, such as the 2011–13 Chilean student protests, and the eventual electoral decline of the traditional coalition. In 2013, it was formally succeeded by the New Majority coalition, which expanded to include the Communist Party of Chile and elected Michelle Bachelet to a second term.

Category:Political parties in Chile Category:Political history of Chile