Christian Democratic Party (Bolivia)
Encyclopedia
The Christian Democratic Party (Spanish
: Partido Demócrata Cristiano, PDC) is a progressive
Christian-democratic political party
in Bolivia
.
Founded on 6 February, 1954, as Social Christian Party (Spanish: Partido Social Cristiano, PSC), and assumed its present name at a party congress in November 1964. Its intellectual foundations were study centres of the Church's social doctrine, the Bolivian Catholic Action and “Integral Humanism” (a centre for the study of the philosophy of Jacques Maritain
). It remains a conventionally “tercerista” Party, calling for a “third way” between capitalism and socialism – a way that would be more humane and truly democratic than either competing social-political system. Founded by Remo Di Natale, Benjamín Miguel Harb
, Javier Caballero, and Emanuel Andrade.
The Christian Democratic Party took part in the 1958 and 1962 congressional elections, in 1962 Benjamín Miguel Harb
became its first deputy. It boycotted the 1964 and 1966 presidential votes.
In 1967 the party took part in the Government of the President of René Barrientos Ortuño
, being given responsibility for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and this was a major misjudgment by the PDC leadership. When military forces carried out bloody raids against mining camps, the Christian Democratic Party was forced to withdraw in anger and embarrassment, with severe internal divisions resulting. The party's youth organization had been discontented with the third-road philosophy for some time, and the mine camp invasions helped to crystallize their rebellion; they favored revolutionary socialism as a solution to Bolivia's dilemmas. In the late 1960s, the youth wing seceded to form the Revolutionary PDC which later became the Revolutionary Left Movement
(MIR). Several discontented members of the party, including Jose Luis Roca, also left to join General Alfredo Ovando Candía
's short-lived nationalist revolutionary government in 1969 – 1970.
Under the dictatorship of President Hugo Banzer Suárez
the Christian Democratics fought for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the holding of elections, but its president Benjamín Miguel Harb
was exiled in 1974 and its organizing secretary Felix Vargas forced to leave the country shortly afterwards.
The PDC took part in 1978 general elections, running former Defense Minister General René Bernal Escalante, a leader of the right-wing faction of which supported the Hugo Banzer Suárez
regime.
After the 1978 election, René Bernal Escalante split from the PDC and founded the Christian Democratic Union
.
For the elections held on 1 July, 1979, the party joined the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
with four other parties – the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
(MNR), the Authentic Revolutionary Party
(PRA), the Marxist Leninist Communist Party (PCML) and the Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
(MRTK). The Alliance ran a MNR’s leader Víctor Paz Estenssoro
as its Presidential candidate and a PDC’s leader Luís Ossio Sanjines
as its Vice-Presidential candidate.
In 1979 the Christian Democratic Party won nine seats in the Chamber of Deputies and three in the Senate.
In 1980 the PDC took part in an electoral coalition Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
backing ex-President Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
, which polled few votes; the leader of the PDC Benjamín Miguel Harb
ran as Vice-Presidential candidate.
Soon after the restoration of democratic government, in November 1982, Christian Democratics took a seat in the Hernán Siles Zuazo
Government, but withdrew from the coalition in October 1984.
The PDC took part in 1985 general elections, running Luís Ossio Sanjines
as its Presidential candidate and Jaime Ponce Garcíaas as Vice-Presidential candidate, and won three seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
Although winning no legislative seats as an ally of the Nationalist Democratic Action
in May 1989, Luis Ossio Sanjines
, was elected Vice-President of the Republic as a result of its adherence to the Nationalist Democratic Action
– Revolutionary Left Movement
pact (Patriotic Agreement) in August. The PDC campaigned as a member of the Patriotic Agreement in 1993 elections.
It was reported in 2005 that the Christian Democratic Party was one of the founding components of Social and Democratic Power
, although details were limited.
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, PDC) is a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
Christian-democratic 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 Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
Founded on 6 February, 1954, as Social Christian Party (Spanish: Partido Social Cristiano, PSC), and assumed its present name at a party congress in November 1964. Its intellectual foundations were study centres of the Church's social doctrine, the Bolivian Catholic Action and “Integral Humanism” (a centre for the study of the philosophy of Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain
Jacques Maritain was a French Catholic philosopher. Raised as a Protestant, he converted to Catholicism in 1906. An author of more than 60 books, he helped to revive St. Thomas Aquinas for modern times and is a prominent drafter of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights...
). It remains a conventionally “tercerista” Party, calling for a “third way” between capitalism and socialism – a way that would be more humane and truly democratic than either competing social-political system. Founded by Remo Di Natale, Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb was a Bolivian politician and lawyer.Miguel Harb obtained a licenciatura in philosophy. He also obtained a post-graduate degree in international politics from the International University, Rome, Italy.In 1954 he took part in founding the Christian Democratic Party...
, Javier Caballero, and Emanuel Andrade.
The Christian Democratic Party took part in the 1958 and 1962 congressional elections, in 1962 Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb was a Bolivian politician and lawyer.Miguel Harb obtained a licenciatura in philosophy. He also obtained a post-graduate degree in international politics from the International University, Rome, Italy.In 1954 he took part in founding the Christian Democratic Party...
became its first deputy. It boycotted the 1964 and 1966 presidential votes.
In 1967 the party took part in the Government of the President of René Barrientos Ortuño
René Barrientos
René Barrientos Ortuño was a Bolivian politician who served as his country's Vice President in 1964 and as its President from 1964 to 1969....
, being given responsibility for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and this was a major misjudgment by the PDC leadership. When military forces carried out bloody raids against mining camps, the Christian Democratic Party was forced to withdraw in anger and embarrassment, with severe internal divisions resulting. The party's youth organization had been discontented with the third-road philosophy for some time, and the mine camp invasions helped to crystallize their rebellion; they favored revolutionary socialism as a solution to Bolivia's dilemmas. In the late 1960s, the youth wing seceded to form the Revolutionary PDC which later became the Revolutionary Left Movement
Revolutionary Left Movement (Bolivia)
The Revolutionary Left Movement - New Majority is a social democratic political party in Bolivia...
(MIR). Several discontented members of the party, including Jose Luis Roca, also left to join General Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía
Alfredo Ovando Candía was a Bolivian president and dictator , general and political figure.- Early years :...
's short-lived nationalist revolutionary government in 1969 – 1970.
Under the dictatorship of President Hugo Banzer Suárez
Hugo Banzer
Hugo Banzer Suárez was a politician, military general, dictator and President of Bolivia. He held the Bolivian presidency twice: from August 22, 1971 to July 21, 1978, as a dictator; and then again from August 6, 1997 to August 7, 2001, as constitutional President.-Military and ideological...
the Christian Democratics fought for human rights, fundamental freedoms and the holding of elections, but its president Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb was a Bolivian politician and lawyer.Miguel Harb obtained a licenciatura in philosophy. He also obtained a post-graduate degree in international politics from the International University, Rome, Italy.In 1954 he took part in founding the Christian Democratic Party...
was exiled in 1974 and its organizing secretary Felix Vargas forced to leave the country shortly afterwards.
The PDC took part in 1978 general elections, running former Defense Minister General René Bernal Escalante, a leader of the right-wing faction of which supported the Hugo Banzer Suárez
Hugo Banzer
Hugo Banzer Suárez was a politician, military general, dictator and President of Bolivia. He held the Bolivian presidency twice: from August 22, 1971 to July 21, 1978, as a dictator; and then again from August 6, 1997 to August 7, 2001, as constitutional President.-Military and ideological...
regime.
After the 1978 election, René Bernal Escalante split from the PDC and founded the Christian Democratic Union
Christian Democratic Union (Bolivia)
The Christian Democratic Union was a right-wing Christian-democratic political party in Bolivia....
.
For the elections held on 1 July, 1979, the party joined the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance was a centrist electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The MNRA was formed in 1979 bythe Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, MNR;...
with four other parties – the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement is a Bolivian political party, perhaps the most important in the country during the 20th century. At the legislative elections in 2002, the party won, in an alliance with the Free Bolivia Movement, 26.9% of the popular vote and 36 out of 130 seats in the...
(MNR), the Authentic Revolutionary Party
Authentic Revolutionary Party
The Authentic Revolutionary Party was a right-wing political party in Bolivia.The Authentic Revolutionary Party was founded in 1959 as a faction of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement , the ruling party under the presidency of Víctor Paz Estenssoro by Wálter Guevara Arze,...
(PRA), the Marxist Leninist Communist Party (PCML) and the Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
The Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement is a left-wing political party in Bolivia....
(MRTK). The Alliance ran a MNR’s leader Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
as its Presidential candidate and a PDC’s leader Luís Ossio Sanjines
Luis Ossio
Luis Ossio Sanjinés served as Vice President of Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, during the presidency of Jaime Paz Zamora. He belonged to the Christian Democratic Party of Bolivia.-References:...
as its Vice-Presidential candidate.
In 1979 the Christian Democratic Party won nine seats in the Chamber of Deputies and three in the Senate.
In 1980 the PDC took part in an electoral coalition Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative
The Democratic Revolutionary Front-New Alternative was a left-centrist electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The FDR-NA was formed in Spring 1980 byChristian Democratic Party, PDC;...
backing ex-President Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas
Luis Adolfo Siles Salinas was the Constitutional President of Bolivia for a period of five months between April and September 1969.-Background and early life:...
, which polled few votes; the leader of the PDC Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb
Benjamín Miguel Harb was a Bolivian politician and lawyer.Miguel Harb obtained a licenciatura in philosophy. He also obtained a post-graduate degree in international politics from the International University, Rome, Italy.In 1954 he took part in founding the Christian Democratic Party...
ran as Vice-Presidential candidate.
Soon after the restoration of democratic government, in November 1982, Christian Democratics took a seat in the Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo was a politician from Bolivia. He served as his country's constitutionally elected president twice, from 1956 to 1960 and again from 1982 to 1985....
Government, but withdrew from the coalition in October 1984.
The PDC took part in 1985 general elections, running Luís Ossio Sanjines
Luis Ossio
Luis Ossio Sanjinés served as Vice President of Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, during the presidency of Jaime Paz Zamora. He belonged to the Christian Democratic Party of Bolivia.-References:...
as its Presidential candidate and Jaime Ponce Garcíaas as Vice-Presidential candidate, and won three seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
Although winning no legislative seats as an ally of the Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action is a right-wing political party in Bolivia led by Jorge Quiroga. ADN was founded on March 23, 1979 by the military dictator Hugo Banzer after he stepped down from power. It later expanded to include the Revolutionary Left Party and a faction of the Bolivian Socialist...
in May 1989, Luis Ossio Sanjines
Luis Ossio
Luis Ossio Sanjinés served as Vice President of Bolivia from 1989 to 1993, during the presidency of Jaime Paz Zamora. He belonged to the Christian Democratic Party of Bolivia.-References:...
, was elected Vice-President of the Republic as a result of its adherence to the Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action
Nationalist Democratic Action is a right-wing political party in Bolivia led by Jorge Quiroga. ADN was founded on March 23, 1979 by the military dictator Hugo Banzer after he stepped down from power. It later expanded to include the Revolutionary Left Party and a faction of the Bolivian Socialist...
– Revolutionary Left Movement
Revolutionary Left Movement (Bolivia)
The Revolutionary Left Movement - New Majority is a social democratic political party in Bolivia...
pact (Patriotic Agreement) in August. The PDC campaigned as a member of the Patriotic Agreement in 1993 elections.
It was reported in 2005 that the Christian Democratic Party was one of the founding components of Social and Democratic Power
Social and Democratic Power
Podemos is the name of a right-of-center, pro-business Bolivian political party. It is a pseudo-acronym standing for 'Poder Democrático y Social' , but the word also means "We can."-Nationalist Democratic Action:...
, although details were limited.