The Liberal–Conservative Fusion () was an oligarchic alliance between

Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in western South America. It is the southernmost country in the world and the closest to Antarctica, stretching along a narrow strip of land between the Andes, Andes Mountains and the Paci ...

an liberal (''

Pipiolos image:RamonFreire.jpg, 180px, Ramón Freire, hero of the Chilean War of Independence and head of state between 1823 and 1826 and again in 1827, was an icon of the Pipiolo movement ''Pipiolos'' (spanish language, Spanish for a young or naive pers ...

'') and conservative (''

Pelucones image:MEgaña.jpg, 180px, Mariano Egaña, was a notable Pelucón; politically he felt affinity to constitutional monarchy as a form of government. Pelucones (spanish language, Spanish for bigwigs) was the name used to refer to Chilean aristocrac ...

'') political parties that existed from 1858 to 1874. The two groups were united in their opposition to the political choices of the time. Liberals represented the

laity In religious organizations, the laity () — individually a layperson, layman or laywoman — consists of all Church membership, members who are not part of the clergy, usually including any non-Ordination, ordained members of religious orders, e ...

(non-

clergy Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

) and were in favor of more political liberties and firmer boundaries on presidential powers granted by the Constitution of 1833. Conservatives started off with the clergy's influence: they had the Church, with an independent function with respect to

patronage Patronage is the support, encouragement, privilege, or financial aid that an organization or individual bestows on another. In the history of art, art patronage refers to the support that princes, popes, and other wealthy and influential people ...

, and had firm support from the president. Their coalition united opposition to the authoritarian practices of the government of

Manuel Montt Manuel Francisco Antonio Julián Montt Torres (; September 4, 1809 – September 21, 1880) was a Chilean statesman and scholar. He was twice elected President of Chile between 1851 and 1861. He was the first civilian to serve a full term as Presi ...

and its minister of the Interior, Antonio Varas. They were structured to display a united front before the electoral intervention of the National Party also known as the Montt-Varista Party.

Liberal Alliance

Not all liberals accepted the fusion. The future radicals separated in 1859 with a party consisting of more laity, an anti-clergy program, and the separation of the church and state. They arrived in the political arena with the election of Jose Joaquin Perez (1861–1871) who displaced the Montt-Varistas. The presidency of Federico Errázuriz Zañartu garnered the rest of the conservatives (1873) because of his religious subject. As result, a new coalition was formed which integrated liberal and radical elements. This was called the Liberal Alliance, which gave the new legislative core to the government of Errázuriz Zañartu in 1875.

References

1850s in Chile 1860s in Chile 1870s in Chile {{DEFAULTSORT:Liberal-Conservative Fusion