1970 Chilean presidential election

1970 Chilean presidential election

← 1964 4 September 1970 1989 →

Nominee Salvador Allende Jorge Alessandri Radomiro Tomic Party Socialist Independent PDC Alliance Popular Unity PN–DR Popular vote 1,070,334 1,031,159 821,801 Percentage 36.61% 35.27% 28.11% Congress vote 153 35

Results by province Results by commune

President before election Eduardo Frei Montalva PDC Elected President Salvador Allende Socialist

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Presidential elections were held in Chile on 4 September 1970. Salvador Allende of the Popular Unity alliance won a narrow plurality in a race against independent Jorge Alessandri and Christian Democrat Radomiro Tomic, before having his victory confirmed by a congressional vote after the Christian Democrats voted in favour of his candidacy.

Both the United States and the Soviet Union poured money into this election through their intelligence agencies and other sources, with the former attempting to sabotage Allende, and the latter supporting his campaign. Ambassador Edward Korry would play a major role in anti-Allende campaigns during the election.

Eduardo Frei Montalva and his Christian Democratic Party would later unite with Allende's opponents to form a congressional majority in an attempt to declare his presidency illegal in August 1973, catalyzing the military coup a few weeks later.