Allende: Charisma without a Cult of Personality

The people, taking part in demonstrations, express all at the same time admiration, respect, devotion and immense tenderness for their President.

On the night of his election, September 4, 1970, a contract was entered into between Allende and the Chilean people: he would be the voice expressing the will of this multitude of people, in exchange for which they would always defend him, as proclaimed in the slogan shouted at every demonstration : "Allende, Allende, el pueblo te defiende" ("the people will defend you").

A rallying figure for men and women rather than a leader, "Chicho" as he is familiarly called on the street, knows, a bit paternalistically and very conscious of the effect he has, how to resolve the most awkward situations.

When, for example, during the agitated May 1st commemoration, the International was struck up by the extreme left in the middle of his speech, he started to sing it himself, followed immediately by the entire Plaza de la Constitution.