CARLOS IBÁÑEZ DEL CAMPO: BIOGRAPHY, GOVERNMENT AND WORKS - HISTORY - 2025

Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was a politician and military man by profession, and he served as president of Chile on two occasions. The first time was between the years 1927 and 1931, the second time between the years 1952 and 1958. He was a convinced Social Democrat; At the beginning of his political career he dedicated himself to defending the rights of the peasants in his hometown.

Despite his sensitivity to workers, he was also a very severe man, almost dictatorial in nature. At the peak of his power he came to have absolute power over the written press and other media. Subsequently, his momentum waned as did his popularity, and late in life he became an independent politician.

His appearance in the Chilean political world was emblematic, since it marked the end of almost a century without any military in power. His influence remained palpable for almost 60 years.

Biography

Ibáñez del Campo was born in the city of Linares, Chile, on November 3, 1877. He was the son of Francisco Ibáñez, who in turn had Irish ancestry. His mother was named María Nieves del Campo.

He grew up on a farm owned by his father, from where he participated in the birth of the first peasant center in the town.

After finishing his basic and secondary education, he entered the Military School. During his life, he married twice. The first was with Rosa Quirós, with whom he had two children; Rosa passed away after 10 years of marriage. Later, Ibáñez married Graciela Letelier, with whom he had 4 children.

His military career was more fruitful and recognized in other countries than in his own. He got to hold the rank of colonel in the army of El Salvador, when he participated in a military mission there. However, in the Chilean army he reached only the rank of major.

However, Carlos Ibáñez del Campo is best known for his outstanding political participation in different episodes of his native Chile. He died in Santiago in 1960, when he was 82 years old.

Characteristics of his government

Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was an extremely important character in the political history of Chile, since he led the military revolts that ended the parliamentary republic. Later he continued to gain more governmental power and popular support.

In 1927 he obtained the presidency of the republic thanks to an overwhelming advantage over his opponents, but his government quickly took an authoritarian turn and the state became interventionist in the different public and private institutions.

However, his mandate began to shape modern Chile, which entered the 20th century undergoing major transformations. Thanks to saltpeter and copper mining, the southern nation experienced a true economic boom.

Living conditions for Chileans improved and popular support for Ibáñez was also at its best.

During this period of economic well-being, the government cabinet headed by Ibáñez began a rapid creation of public works. These projects include the founding of the famous Carabineros de Chile, as well as the Chilean Air Force.

Fall in popularity

Its popularity lasted until the Wall Street crash in 1929. At that time all loans were stopped or canceled. Without the influx of foreign exchange, Chile was hit hard by the Great Depression.

Large public spending followed and the Ibáñez cabinet did nothing to improve the economic situation. Meanwhile, his opponents began planning a return to politics.

After a great wave of civil unrest, Ibáñez left the country for exile on July 26, 1931. Previously, he delegated his position to the president of the Senate, Pedro Opazo, who in turn resigned in favor of the Minister of the Interior, Juan Esteban Montero..

Chile did not have political stability until the re-election of Arturo Alessandri in 1932, whose measures managed to alleviate the serious economic crisis.

Alessandri was always an enemy of Ibáñez, both personally and politically, and this resentment was perpetuated long after their term ended.

Second term

In the 1952 presidential elections, the center-right Agrarian Labor Party declared Ibáñez its presidential candidate. Ibañez then promised to end corruption and criticized traditional political parties.

However, he was vague in his proposals and did not have a clear position on the political spectrum. His second term was modestly successful, as by then he was old and ill, so he delegated the government mainly to his cabinet.

During this period, Ibáñez lacked the strength and will to achieve a satisfactory mandate without the support of the civilian population, since a large part of his followers were members of the army, many of whom were former acquaintances of his.

The main problems during his presidency were those related to the economy, which was badly hit, practically dying.

He had no plan to control inflation, one of the most pressing concerns in Chile at the time. His ideas in economic matters were mostly wrong and did not bear any satisfactory fruit.

Plays

police from Chile

The creation of the Carabineros de Chile corps was perhaps his most important work and also the most recognized; it is one of the ones that has lasted the longest. This entity already existed previously, but was unified under his mandate.

The Carabineros are the police force in charge of ensuring the safety of Chilean citizens. At the same time, they fulfill their duty under a strict code of hierarchy, discipline and order. Ibáñez himself was commander of this institution for two months.

Air Force

Another of the institutions created during the Ibáñez government was the Chilean Air Force, which historically has received a lot of German influence and continues to this day.

The Chilean Air Force is one of the best in Latin America; he enjoys a good reputation and has great respect for the disciplined nature of his troops.

Other institutions

The Ministry of Mines, the Bank of the State of Chile, the National Air Line and the Sugar Industry were also born thanks to the economic boom of the first Ibáñez government.

Saltpeter and copper exploitation

Similarly, during this period the exploitation of Chilean saltpeter and copper mines grew considerably. This made Chile a country with important raw materials to export.

Work code

To take into account workers from all walks of life, the first president created the Chilean Labor Code, which was born in 1931.

This penal body was in force for 50 years without undergoing any significant change, until it finally had to be modified.

Infrastructure

The growth of the Chilean economy allowed Ibáñez to invest in roads and infrastructure, which at that time were still precarious.

Workers rights

In the political sphere, Ibáñez's mandate brought issues such as the rights of workers and women to the public light.

Being a leftist militant, during his second term he decriminalized the Communist Party of Chile.

References

1. Grand Lodge of Chile (2013). Carlos Ibañez del Campo. Grand Lodge of Chile. Recovered in: granlogia.cl
2. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (1998). Carlos Ibañez del Campo, President of Chile. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Recovered at: britannica.com
3. Würth Rojas, Ernesto. 1958. Ibáñez. enigmatic leader. Editorial del Pacífico. Santiago.
4. Bernedo, Pinto, G. (1961). Economic prosperity under Carlos Ibáñez del Campo, 1927-1929: the international dimension of a government economic program. Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Recovered in: repositorio.uc.cl
5. Moulian, Thomas. (1986). The government of Ibáñez. 1952-1958. FLACSO. Santiago.