Named after a figure of profound historical importance, Avenue du Président Salvador Allende stands as a testament to a life dedicated to social justice. Who was Salvador Allende? He was more than just a name. He was a politician. He co-founded Chile’s Socialist Party.
Allende ran for the Chilean presidency several times. Finally he won the 1970 election. His regime garnered support from working-class communities. However U.S. President Richard Nixon covertly opposed it. A military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet led to Allende’s death on September 11 1973. He took his own life.
Born in Valparaíso Chile on July 26 1908 Salvador Isabelino del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Allende Gossens came from an upper-middle-class family. The family had a progressive political tradition. His early life exposed him to revolutionary ideas. An anarchist shoemaker named Juan De Marchi influenced him. Allende was arrested multiple times as a student at the University of Chile. He protested against the government. After earning his medical degree in 1932 he helped found Chile’s Socialist Party.
Allende’s entry into politics began in 1937. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies. He later served as minister of health. He implemented social reforms. These included higher pensions. He also introduced a free school lunch program and safety laws for factory workers. In 1940 he married Hortensia Bussi. They had three daughters. Their names were Carmen Paz Isabel and Beatriz.
From 1945 to 1969 Allende was elected to the Chilean Senate four times. He declared his commitment to Marxism early on. He aimed to promote a socialist Chile. In the Senate he consistently defended the working class. He attacked capitalism and imperialism. He sided with the Cuban Revolution. He ran for president unsuccessfully in 1952 1958 and 1964.
When Allende became President of Chile it was enduring a severe economic crisis. Unemployment was high. Half the country’s children under 15 suffered from malnutrition. Allende immediately implemented his socialist agenda. He increased wages. He froze prices. He reformed the education system. He also reformed health care and government administration.
Allende nationalized large-scale industries. He expropriated American-owned copper industries without compensation. This led to opposition from U.S. President Richard Nixon’s administration. They increased support to Allende’s political opponents. They cut off international lines of credit to Chile.
Poor economic planning and a dysfunctional relationship with Congress deepened the country’s economic difficulty. Allende could not control his own radical left wing. This brought further hostility from the middle class. However he remained popular among workers and peasants.
On September 11 1973 General Augusto Pinochet led a military coup d’état. He overthrew Allende. Allende refused to surrender. He barricaded himself in the presidential palace. Many civilians were killed or wounded during the siege. Many were imprisoned.
Conflicting reports emerged. Did Allende commit suicide? Or was he killed by soldiers storming the palace? The CIA acknowledged its support of the political opposition. It had advance knowledge of the coup. However it denied direct involvement. In 2011 Allende’s body was exhumed. A scientific autopsy confirmed he died by suicide.
Allende took his life with a gun. Cuban dictator Fidel Castro gave it to him. Chilean novelist Isabel Allende is Salvador Allende’s niece. Standing here on Avenue du Président Salvador Allende remember the ideals he fought for. Remember his dedication to the people. His legacy remains a powerful reminder of social justice.