Word: frei
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...presidential election will be sounding around Latin America for years-and not merely because the Communists were thrashed in their attempt to take power by democratic means. Marxism has never succeeded at the ballot box. The bigger news is the man and the party that won: Eduardo Frei and the Christian Democrats, who are rapidly emerging as a vital new force, not only in Chile but in all of Latin America...
...Their ideology is not based so much on the tenets of Roman Catholicism; indeed, the church in Colombia openly opposes the Christian Democrats. Rather, the party rallying cry is the Christian ethic, and it calls for social revolution without the shackles of Communism. "Christian Democracy," says Chile's Frei, "believes that the modern world is in crisis, and that only a complete readjustment of society can save man from materialism and collectivism...
Such talk has a strong appeal for the underprivileged-and also for Latin America's deeply religious women, rich or poor. In Chile, it was the women who gave Frei his large majority. He broke about even with Marxist Salvador Allende for the men's vote; the women (who use separate ballot boxes in Chile) gave him almost 63% of their vote. Frei's own sister Irene, 46, was one of the country's most popular political figures until her death in an auto accident five weeks ago. In Santiago municipal elections last year, she herself...
...President for All." The talk of trouble was merely talk. All remained quiet, and from the start, Chileans made clear their choice. Frei got an estimated 50% of the men's vote, 65% of the women's vote. Barely four hours after the polls closed, Allende was forced to concede defeat...
Thus when he takes office on Nov. 4, Eduardo Frei will become the first Christian Democrat ever to be elected a President in Latin America. Eight years ago, when he founded his party, Frei's Christian Democrats commanded less than 7% of the national vote; last week they won an absolute majority. "This is a victory for Chile," sighed an exhausted Frei. "I want to say that I,will be President for all Chilenos, not just those who voted...