Headquarters Havana, Cuba | Youth wing Juventud Auténtica | |
President (s) Ramón Grau
(1933–1948)
Carlos Prío Socarrás
(1948–1959) Founded February 8, 1934 (1934-02-08) Dissolved June 2, 1953 (1953-06-02) Preceded by Cuban Revolutionary Party
(Not legal predecessor) | ||
The Cuban Revolutionary Party – Authentic (Spanish: Partido Revolucionario Cubano – Auténtico, PRC-A), commonly named Authentic Party (Spanish: Partido Auténtico, PA), was a political party in Cuba most active between 1933 and 1952. Although the Partido Auténtico had significant influence, it eventually became unpopular and, despite significant reforms, Fulgencio Batista returned to power.
Contents
History
The Partido Auténtico had its origins in the nationalist and anti-liberal Revolution of 1933. It was made up in February 1934 by many of the same individuals who had brought about the downfall of Gerardo Machado in the previous year to defend the changes caused by the Revolution of 1933.
In the 1939 Constitutional Assembly elections, the party was part of the victorious Opposition Front, and it emerged as the largest party in the Assembly. The 1940 Constitution of Cuba was heavily influenced by the nationalist and socialist ideas at the heart of the party's program.
Although the party also won the most seats in the House of Representatives after the 1940 general elections, its candidate, Ramón Grau, lost the presidential elections. In the 1941 elections, it finished third, winning only 10 seats. Grau went on to win the 1944 elections, which saw the party win the most seats in the House election. It also won the 1946 mid-term elections, with 30 seats.
For the 1948 elections, the party formed an alliance with the Republican Party, helping Carlos Prío Socarrás win the presidential election, also winning both the House and Senate elections. A different alliance with the Democratic Party and the Liberal Party was formed for the 1950 mid-term elections, which again won. However, it lost the 1954 elections, to Fulgencio Batista's National Progressive Coalition.
Ideology
It was the most nationalistic of the major parties that existed between the 1933 and the 1959 Cuban Revolution. It had as its theme "Cuba para los cubanos" (Cuba for Cubans).
Its electoral program contained socialist and corporatist elements. For instance, it supported numerous efforts to strengthen the power of the labor unions, some of the party's biggest supporters. Also, some of its members supported the management of the economy through tripartite commissions with businessmen, labor leaders and government bureaucrats as well as a second chamber (River Plate) with labor and business groups.