Partido Ortodoxo
The Party of the Cuban People – Orthodox (Spanish: Partido del Pueblo Cubano – Ortodoxos, PPC-O), commonly called Orthodox Party (Spanish: Partido Ortodoxo), was a Cuban left-wing populist political party. It was founded in 1947 by Eduardo Chibás in response to government corruption and lack of reform. Its primary aims were the establishment of a distinct national identity, economic independence and the implementation of social reforms.
Orthodox Party Partido Ortodoxo | |
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Leader | Eduardo Chibás Emilio Ochoa |
Founded | 15 May 1947 |
Dissolved | 1952 |
Split from | Authentic Party |
Headquarters | Havana |
Newspaper | CMQ Radio (FM) |
Youth wing | Juventud Ortodoxa |
Ideology | Social democracy Democratic socialism[1] Left-wing populism[2][3] Left-wing nationalism[4] Anti-imperialism Social corporatism |
Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
Colors | Black |
Slogan | "Shame against money" (Vergüenza contra dinero) |
History
In the 1948 general elections Chibás came third in the presidential election, whilst the party won four seats in the House of Representatives. In the 1950 mid-term elections they won nine. Chibás' cousin, Roberto Agramonte, was the favorite to win the 1952 election (for the Ortodoxos) but Fulgencio Batista staged a coup before the winner was determined.
Fidel Castro was an active member of the Orthodox Party in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He intended to run as an Orthodox Party candidate for the Cuban parliament prior to the coup by Batista.[5][6]
Ideology and platform
The Orthodox Party was a catch-all party, open to all that wanted join to it. Generally populist, there weren't distinct internal factions or organizations, with all members united by their support of Eduardo Chibás' goals and ideals. The party's composition included several ideological groups ranging from the political centre to the left:
- Former PRC-A: staunch nationalists, supporting anti-imperialism and revolutionary goals
- Former PSP: young socialists and communist soldiers, disappointed by their party's misconduct
- Former PLC: Small bourgeoises, with more pro-business views
The political program reflected PPC-O's catch-all nature, claiming support for:[7]
- Direct democracy
- The free market and respect for private ownership
- Progressivism
- Political pluralism[8][9]
- Anti-imperialism (mainly anti-Americanism) and nationalism
- Agrarian reform: Abolition of latifundios and monoculture, agricultural diversification
- Fair payments and economic redistribution
- Nationalization of railways, power plants, telecommunications, etc.
- Fight against political corruption, embezzlement and criminals
- Social corporatism and labor rights.
References
- Ramos, Marcos Antonio (2007). Grupo Nelson (ed.). La Cuba de Castro y después...: Entre la historia y la biografía. p. 143. ISBN 9781418582814.
- Farber, Samuel (2011). Haymarket Books (ed.). Cuba Since the Revolution of 1959: A Critical Assessment. p. 165. ISBN 9781608461394.
- Reinerio, Lorenzo (1991). Editora Política (ed.). El fracaso de una ideología: quiebra de la ideología burguesa en Cuba.
- González, Isel Rousseau (1984). Ciencias Sociales (ed.). La Sociedad neocolonial cubana: corrientes ideológicas y partidos políticos. p. 43.
- Jules Robert Benjamin (1990), The United States and the Origins of the Cuban Revolution, Princeton University Press, ISBN 978-0-691-02536-0
- Castro biography Archived 2007-03-17 at the Wayback Machine
- Partido Ortodoxo (1951). Doctrina del Partido Ortodoxo.
- Rodríguez Arechavaleta, Carlos M. (2018). Fondo de Cultura Economica (ed.). La democracia republicana en Cuba 1940-1952: Actores, reglas y estrategias electorales. ISBN 9786071654908.
- Salgado, Ramón Rodríguez (2007). Editora Política (ed.). Vergüenza Contra Dinero. p. 64. ISBN 9789590108037.