Christian Democrat Party (Peru)
Encyclopedia
Christian Democrat Party (in Spanish
: Partido Demócrata Cristiano), a political party
in Peru
that surged in 1956. Founded by Ernesto Alayza Grundy, Luis Bedoya Reyes
, Mario Polar Ugarteche, Héctor Cornejo Chávez, Roberto Ramírez del Villar and others.
who was overthrown in 1948 by Manuel A. Odría
although it did not emerge as an organised until 1956 when it was one of a number of populist
parties formed following Odria's announcement of a new democracy
(the other major ones being Popular Action and the Progressive Social Movement
).
The new party gained seats in both houses in the 1956 elections and initially they only concentrated their efforts on the Congress rather than running for the Presidency. A change in policy followed in 1962 when Cornejo was a candidate for the Presidency but he only managed 2.88% of the vote and the party was eliminated from Congress.
As a result of this failure and the coup that overthrew Manuel Prado Ugarteche
the PDC threw in their lot with the Popular Action and as such returned to Congress in 1963 as junior partners in the coalition supporting new President Fernando Belaúnde Terry
. The party returned to government as a partner in APRA-led government of Alan García, remaining in office until 1990.
, a community-minded approach to politics and state interventionism, with a grouping on the left even advocating nationalisation of the oil industry. In the end the right of the party split off in 1966 to set up the Christian People's Party
although in the short term at least the majority of the membership remained with the PDC.
to the extent that the party was able to defeat strong candidates from Popular Action and the Odriíst National Union
in order to have Luis Bedoya Reyes
elected Mayor of Lima. In general however the party's prospects were hampered by an anti-clericalism
prevalent in Peru and, whilst it gained some support amongst middle class women, it never seriously challenged Popular Action for the centre right vote.
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Partido Demócrata Cristiano), a political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
that surged in 1956. Founded by Ernesto Alayza Grundy, Luis Bedoya Reyes
Luis Bedoya Reyes
Luis Bedoya Reyes was a Peruvian Christian Democrat and Christian People's Party politician in the late 1960s. He was the mayor of Lima from 1964 to 1969. He is also a former Minister of Justice, member of the Peruvian Congress and ran for Peruvian president two times...
, Mario Polar Ugarteche, Héctor Cornejo Chávez, Roberto Ramírez del Villar and others.
Development
The PDC had its roots in the government of José Bustamante y RiveroJosé Bustamante y Rivero
José Luis Bustamante y Rivero was a lawyer, writer, politician, diplomat, President of Peru from 1945 to 1948 and President of the International Court of Justice in The Hague from 1967 to 1969.- Early years :...
who was overthrown in 1948 by Manuel A. Odría
Manuel A. Odría
Manuel Arturo Odría Amoretti was the President of Peru from 1948 to 1956.Manuel Odría was born in 1897 in Tarma, a city in the central Andes just east of Lima. He graduated first in his class from the Chorillos Military Academy in 1915. He joined the army and as a lieutenant-colonel was a war...
although it did not emerge as an organised until 1956 when it was one of a number of populist
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
parties formed following Odria's announcement of a new democracy
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
(the other major ones being Popular Action and the Progressive Social Movement
Progressive Social Movement
Progressive Social Movement was a political party in Peru founded in 1956. Its leaders included Santiago Agurto Calvo , Alberto Ruiz Eldredge and the Salazar Bondy brothers.-Development:...
).
The new party gained seats in both houses in the 1956 elections and initially they only concentrated their efforts on the Congress rather than running for the Presidency. A change in policy followed in 1962 when Cornejo was a candidate for the Presidency but he only managed 2.88% of the vote and the party was eliminated from Congress.
As a result of this failure and the coup that overthrew Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado Ugarteche
Manuel Prado y Ugarteche was a Peruvian banker and political figure. Son of former president, Mariano Ignacio Prado, he was born in Lima and served as the President of Peru twice, from 1939 until 1945 and again between 1956 and 1962...
the PDC threw in their lot with the Popular Action and as such returned to Congress in 1963 as junior partners in the coalition supporting new President Fernando Belaúnde Terry
Fernando Belaúnde Terry
Fernando Belaúnde Terry was President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms . Deposed by a military coup in 1968, he was re-elected in 1980 after eleven years of military rule...
. The party returned to government as a partner in APRA-led government of Alan García, remaining in office until 1990.
Ideology and divisions
The PDC advocated a strong nationalismNationalism
Nationalism is a political ideology that involves a strong identification of a group of individuals with a political entity defined in national terms, i.e. a nation. In the 'modernist' image of the nation, it is nationalism that creates national identity. There are various definitions for what...
, a community-minded approach to politics and state interventionism, with a grouping on the left even advocating nationalisation of the oil industry. In the end the right of the party split off in 1966 to set up the Christian People's Party
Christian People's Party (Peru)
The Christian People's Party is a center-right and conservative political party based on Christian Democracy. It was founded in 1966 by a group of Peruvian Christian Democracy dissidents, led by Luis Bedoya Reyes....
although in the short term at least the majority of the membership remained with the PDC.
Support
The PDC gained a following in LimaLima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
to the extent that the party was able to defeat strong candidates from Popular Action and the Odriíst National Union
Odriíst National Union
Odriíst National Union , was a political party in Peru founded in 1961 by general Manuel A. Odría. The party had Julio de la Piedra amongst its leaders.-Development:...
in order to have Luis Bedoya Reyes
Luis Bedoya Reyes
Luis Bedoya Reyes was a Peruvian Christian Democrat and Christian People's Party politician in the late 1960s. He was the mayor of Lima from 1964 to 1969. He is also a former Minister of Justice, member of the Peruvian Congress and ran for Peruvian president two times...
elected Mayor of Lima. In general however the party's prospects were hampered by an anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism
Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious institutional power and influence, real or alleged, in all aspects of public and political life, and the involvement of religion in the everyday life of the citizen...
prevalent in Peru and, whilst it gained some support amongst middle class women, it never seriously challenged Popular Action for the centre right vote.