Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario

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The Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario ('''MNR'''), a center-right political party, is Bolivia's oldest political party and dominated most of 20th century Bolivian politics. The party led the [[1952 National Revolution]] and is responsible for a host of reforms including: universal adult suffrage, agrarian reform, and the nationalization of industries. After 1985, the party adopted neoliberal economic policies and become one of the [[systemic parties]].
The Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario ('''MNR'''), a center-right political party, is Bolivia's oldest political party and dominated most of 20th century Bolivian politics. The party led the [[1952 National Revolution]] and is responsible for a host of reforms including: universal adult suffrage, agrarian reform, and the nationalization of industries. After 1985, the party adopted neoliberal economic policies and become one of the [[systemic parties]].

Revision as of 16:47, 28 July 2006

The Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario (MNR), a center-right political party, is Bolivia's oldest political party and dominated most of 20th century Bolivian politics. The party led the 1952 National Revolution and is responsible for a host of reforms including: universal adult suffrage, agrarian reform, and the nationalization of industries. After 1985, the party adopted neoliberal economic policies and become one of the systemic parties.

Contents

History

The MNR grew out of national revolutionary movements that flourished after the Chaco War (1932-1935). The party was officially founded 7 June 1942 by middle-class nationalists who had supported the Germán Busch regime (1936-1939), including Víctor Paz Estenssoro, Hernán Siles Zuazo, Walter Guevara Arze, Carlos Montenegro, and Augusto Céspedes. From the start, the MNR represented a bourgeois-nationalist movement that sought to overthrow the oligarchic liberal republic.

In 1943 the MNR participated in its first coup, alongside RADEPA and FSB, establishing the Gualberto Villarroel regime (1943-1946). During the late 1940s, the MNR established a multi-class aliance between the middle classes and labor. The party attempted an unsuccessful civilian putsch in 1949, before the successful 1952 April Revolution. The MNR would govern Bolivia until 1964, when it was overthrown in a military coup by René Barrientos.

During the following years, factions of the MNR participated in several de facto regimes. The Paz Estenssoro wing supported the 1971 Hugo Banzer coup, though the party left the government in 1974.

By the democratic transition period (1978-1985), the MNR was split into various factions. These included:

MNRH represented the "official" faction and campaigned in the 1979, 1980, and 1985 general elections.

The MNR since 1985

The post-democratization period saw the MNR transition from a national revolutionary party into a neoliberal party. This period also saw the first institutionalized transfer of power within the party, as Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada was voted party chief in April 1990; he would remain party chief until April 2004.

In 1985, Paz Estenssoro won the second plurality (30.3% of valid votes) behind Hugo Banzer (32.8% of valid votes). An alliance of left and center-left parties chose to back Paz Estenssoro, rather than the former military dictator. Once in office, Paz Estenssoro formed an alliance with Banzer's ADN and initiated a series of neoliberal economic structural reforms, epitomized by DS 21060.

In 1989, the MNR nominated Sánchez de Lozada, who won the first plurality (25.7% of valid votes). Because seats were closely split between the three front runners, parliament reached a deadlock. Unwilling to concede the presidency to the MNR, Banzer (the second-place winner) gave his party's support to Jaime Paz Zamora, the third-place winner (21.6% of valid votes).

In 1993, the MNR again nominated Sánchez de Lozada. The MNR formed a pre-electoral alliance with MRTKL, an indigenous party. The MNR-MRTKL ticket won a wide plurality (35.6% of valid votes). Coalition agreements with MBL and UCS secured parliamentary election. The first Sánchez de Lozada government carried out a series of reforms, including: capitalization of state-owned industries, bilingual educational reforms, political decentralization and establishment of municipal governments, and a new 1995 Constitution.

In 1997, the MNR nominated Juan Carlos Durán, who placed second (18.6% of valid votes).

In 2002, the MNR again nominated Sánchez de Lozada. The MNR formed a pre-electoral alliance with MBL. The MNR-MBL ticket won a narrow plurality (22.5% of valid votes). Coalition agreements with ADN, MIR, and UCS secured parliamentary election. The second Sánchez de Lozada government was overthrown in October 2003 during the guerra del gas; he was succeeded by his vice president, Carlos Mesa.

The MNR since 2003

In 2005, a weakened and divided MNR nominated Michiaki Nagatani, who placed fourth (6.5% of valid votes).

In 2006, the MNR participated in the 2006 constituent assembly election. The party ran under its own banner in seven departments. In Tarija, the party ran under the banner Camino al Cambio, an alliance with FRI. In Santa Cruz, the party ran as A3-MNR.

The party is currently led by Mirtha Quevedo, who was elected party chief in April 2004.

Ideology

MNR presidential candidates

See also

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