Carlos Ibáñez del Campo
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| 1st. Period in Office: | 1927 - July, 1931 |
| Predecessor: | Emiliano Figueroa Larraín |
| Successor: | Pedro Opazo |
| 2nd. Period in Office: | September, 1952–September, 1958 |
| Predecessor: | Gabriel González Videla |
| Successor: | Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez |
| Date of Birth: | 12 September 1877 |
| Place of Birth: | Santiago, Chile |
| Political Party: | Independent |
Carlos Ibáñez del Campo (1877–1960) was a Chilean dictator and political figure. He served as president of Chile between 1927 and 1931, and again—as democratically elected president—from 1952 to 1958.
During the "ruido de sables" ("saber rattling") of 1924, he was one of the leaders that caused the collapse of the constitution of 1833 and the so-called "Parliamentary Republic". Later, in 1925, he was named minister of war, and later interior minister. Late in 1927, he was named vice-president by then President Emiliano Figueroa Larraín, who then proceded to resign his office. Once in office he proceeded to rule with dictatorial powers, and to a great popular acclaim.
His popularity was helped by massive loans by American Banks, which helped to promote a high rate of growth in the country. He constructed massive public works, and increased public spending. This lasted until after the 1929 collapse of Wall Street. At that point all loans were halted and called. Without the influx of foreign currency, Chile was the country most affected world-wide by the Great Depression.
After that, his popularity plummeted, and after a great wave of public unrest, he left the country for exile, on July 26, 1931, after delegating his office to the president of the senate, Pedro Opazo, who in turn resigned in favor of the interior minister, Juan Esteban Montero.
In the period between 1931 and 1952, he tried, with varied success, to build a political movement that could help him return to power. Finally, in 1952 he succeded, and was elected by a vast majority of votes, helped by his symbol of a "broom" with which he promised to "sweep" away with the political corruption and the bad governments.
His second term was a very modest success. By that time he was already old and ailing, and he left government mostly to his cabinet. He couldn't solve the pressing economic problems, even though he was helped by the mission Klein-Sacks, who was hired to propose a reform to the economic system.
General Ibañez died in 1960.
| Preceded by: Emiliano Figueroa Larraín |
Presidents of Chile 1927–1931 |
Followed by: Pedro Opazo |
| Preceded by: Gabriel González Videla |
Presidents of Chile 1952–1958 |
Followed by: Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez |