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Jeremy Corbyn on Salvador Allende
The former Labour leader speaks to TOM RAESIDE about the historic 1970 Chilean presidential election, what it meant to him at the time, and what it means for the left today, 50 years on

THIS week marked the 50th anniversary of the historic election of Salvador Allende to the presidency of Chile, as well as the 47th of the bloody coup that overthrew and killed him.

I was delighted to be joined by Jeremy Corbyn, friend to the Latin American left — in particular in Chile — in Finsbury Park. 

In this interview, we discuss his time spent in Chile in the build-up to the 1970 presidential election, asking him what Allende’s victory meant for the left across Latin America and the world at the time. 

Can you tell me about the beginning of your time in Chile, what made you aware of popular unity?

Chilean film-maker Patricio Guzman calls the conflict in Chile in the build-up to the 1973 coup, “the insurrection of the bourgeoisie vs the power of the people.” 

When did you become aware of the changing situation in Chile? What were the repercussions of those events for Latin America and the democratic socialist left across the world?

What are the lessons we can take now from the struggle in Chile, 50 years on from the election of Salvador Allende?

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