National Party

The National Party in Chile was a right-wing political party that emerged from the weakening of traditional right-wing parties. It was formed in 1965 through the merger of parties that sought to remain politically relevant. The National Party, along with the center Christian Democrats, opposed the socialist experiment of the Popular Unity coalition led by Salvador Allende in the early 1970s. This opposition was rooted in a desire to counter the socialist program, which included nationalization of key industries and agrarian reform. The party's origins can be traced back to the Pipiolo and Pelucón partisan groups active after Chilean independence, representing liberal and conservative streams, respectively.123