Salvador Allende | Origin of Street Names

Salvador Allende (1908 - 1973) was a Chilean politician, serving as the President of Chile from 1970 to 1973. He was the first democratically elected communist leader in Latin America. He tragically died during a bloody military coup led by General Augusto Pinochet.

Although he was a medical doctor by profession (a psychiatrist), Salvador Allende's career was primarily in politics, which he pursued for a full 40 years.

Following Marxist-Leninist ideas, he sought to establish a social order based on socialism and class equality.

As the President of Chile, he implemented a series of typical socialist reforms, such as the nationalization of mineral resources, reorganization of agrarian policies, and wealth redistribution, thereby challenging the interests of large capitalists who already controlled a significant part of the Chilean economy.

The economic crisis caused by these reforms (hyperinflation) also led to widespread popular discontent.

General Augusto Pinochet took advantage of the unstable social situation and, with a military junta, carried out a coup, seizing power in the country and establishing a dictatorship that would leave indelible marks on Chilean history. It is believed that Pinochet had significant financial assistance and support from the United States, as American companies were the most affected by Allende's policies.

In a literal street battle between supporters of the regime and the coup plotters, Salvador Allende lost his life while defending the presidential palace. To this day, it is not entirely clear whether he was killed or committed suicide. His body was exhumed twice in the following decades to ascertain the truth about his death. Although the official version confirms suicide, there are still credible claims that Allende was assassinated.

After the military junta, led by the infamous Pinochet, seized power, one of the darker episodes in Chilean history began, lasting a full 26 years. While some argue that the Chilean economy "got back on its feet" during this time, Pinochet's rule is much more remembered as a period of dictatorship, terror, persecution, and the killing of political dissidents.

An intriguing aspect of Salvador Allende's removal from power is that such revolutions were the "hallmark" of leftist, socialist-Bolshevik movements, whereas in this case, it was the opposite.

Regardless of political affiliation, the world today unanimously recognizes Salvador Allende as a victim of a totalitarian regime that inscribed dark pages in the history of a country.

Being a close friend of Josip Broz Tito, Salvador Allende was soon honored after his death with streets named after him in Belgrade, Niš, Sombor, and Preševo.