Santiago de Chile, June 27 (RHC)-- With a number of events on Wednesday, Chileans paid tribute to the president of the Popular Unity government, Salvador Allende, on the 116th anniversary of his birth.

A march took place along La Alameda Avenue and Morandé Street to the Plaza de la Constitución, where floral offerings were placed at the foot of the statue erected in honor of the former president.

Graduated as a surgeon from the University of Chile, Allende became involved in politics from a very young age and participated in the founding of the Socialist Party in 1933.

Before turning 30, he was elected deputy for Valparaíso and Quillota, he served as Minister of Health, Welfare and Social Assistance in the government of Pedro Aguirre Cerda.  From 1945 to 1970, he held seats as senator.

Allende was a candidate for the presidency of the Republic on four occasions: 1952, 1958, 1964 and 1970.

In 1970, Salvador Allende beat Jorge Alessandri by 36 percent of the votes.

During his years of government (1970-1973), he nationalized copper, the country's main resource, deepened the agrarian reform process and carried out popular benefit programs such as half a liter of milk for children and vacation plans for the workers.

The Popular Unity government was overthrown in a fascist military coup d'état of September 11, 1973, led by Army General Augusto Pinochet and fully supported by the United States, which gave way to a 17-year dictatorship.  Thousands were tortured and murdered and many hundreds more were disappeared.

To pay tribute to Allende and remember his legacy, fishermen and residents of the commune of Algarrobo, in the Fifth Region, called for an event at noon.  Meanwhile, in the capital Santiago de Chile, a tribute took place at the monument to the martyerd president.  (Source: Prensa Latina)