ABSTRACT
PATRICIO AYLWIN AZOCAR (President, March 11, 1990-). Patricio Aylwin Azocar was born in Vina del Mar on November 26, 1918. He was educated at the University of Chile, where he received a degree in law in 1943. He subsequently taught at the university and became active in politics. In 1945 he joined the Falange Nacional party, and served as the party's president in 1950 and 1951. Aylwin was a founder of the Christian Democratic party in 1957 and was elected to the Chilean Senate in the mid-1960s. He remained a senator until the military coup in 1973. Aylwin continued to be active with the Christian Democrats and advocated the restoration of democratic rule. He was selected as leader of the Christian Democrats in 1987. President Augusto Pinochet was denied an extension on his term of office in a plebiscite in October of 1988. Aylwin was the presidential nominee for a centrist coalition in elections in December of 1989. Aylwin was victorious and assumed office on March 11, 1990. His party was also successful in winning the majority of seats in municipal elections in June of 1992.
