People's Democratic Movement (Chile)

The People's Democratic Movement (Movimiento Democrático Popular, MDP) was a Chilean political coalition formed in 1983, during the military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet. It primarily brought together left-wing political organizations that opposed the regime.

The MDP was largely composed of parties and movements that had been part of the Unidad Popular (Popular Unity) coalition which governed Chile under Salvador Allende. Significant constituent groups included the Communist Party of Chile (PCCh), a faction of the Socialist Party of Chile (PS), the Movement of the Revolutionary Left (MIR), and the Manuel Rodríguez Patriotic Front (FPMR), the latter acting as its armed wing.

The coalition advocated for the overthrow of the Pinochet dictatorship through popular mobilization and, at times, armed struggle. They viewed the regime as illegitimate and opposed any attempts at gradual transition or negotiation. The MDP organized protests and demonstrations against the dictatorship, facing repression from the military government.

As Chile transitioned towards democracy in the late 1980s, internal divisions within the MDP regarding strategy and the possibility of participating in the plebiscite of 1988 grew. Ultimately, the MDP largely dissolved as member parties pursued different paths in the transition process. Some factions joined broader coalitions that contested elections, while others continued to advocate for more radical change. The FPMR, in particular, remained active in armed opposition even after the restoration of democracy. The legacy of the MDP is complex, representing a period of intense political polarization and resistance against authoritarian rule in Chile.