Concertación

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Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia, or simply Concertación, was a center-left alliance of Chilean political parties. It formed on February 2, 1988, to oppose the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet and to restore democracy. The coalition included Christian Democracy, Socialist Party, Radical Party and later other groups. It ran the successful “NO” campaign in the 1988 plebiscite, winning 54% of the vote and leading to elections in 1989 and the transfer of power in 1990.

From 1990 to 2010, the Concertación led Chile and expanded social programs while helping reduce poverty. Its presidents were Patricio Aylwin (1990–1994), Eduardo Frei Ruiz-Tagle (1994–1999), Ricardo Lagos (2000–2006), and Michelle Bachelet (2006–2010). In Parliament, the coalition often did not have a majority in the Senate, so it had to negotiate with the right-wing parties UDI and RN to pass laws.

In 2005, Bachelet won the presidency after a party primary and a runoff, becoming Chile’s first female president in 2006. Sebastián Piñera of the right won the presidency in 2010, ending the Concertación’s long control of the presidency. The coalition was dissolved in 2013 and was replaced by Nueva Mayoría (New Majority).