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'''Miguel Patricio Aylwin Azócar''' (b. [[Viña del Mar]], November 26, 1918–d. [[Santiago de Chile]], April 19, 2016) was a [[Chile]]an [[Christian Democrat]] politician and jurist. He was president of the Senate from 1971 to 1972 and [[President of Chile]] from 1990 to 1994.

'''Miguel Patricio Aylwin Azócar''' (b. [[Viña del Mar]], November 26, 1918–d. [[Santiago de Chile]], April 19, 2016) was a [[Chile]]an [[Christian Democrat]] politician and jurist. He was president of the Senate from 1971 to 1972 and [[President of Chile]] from 1990 to 1994.

Aylwin was the first democratically elected [[President of Chile|president]] after the [[Military Government (Chile)|Military Government]]. Thus, Aylwin's mandate began the period known as the "Transition to Democracy" and the first of the four consecutive governments of the [[Concertación|Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia]] (Concertation of Parties for Democracy).

Aylwin was the first democratically elected [[President of Chile|president]] after the [[Military Government (Chile)|Military Government]]. Thus, Aylwin's mandate began the first of the four consecutive governments of the [[Concertación|Concertación de Partidos por la Democracia]] (Concertation of Parties for Democracy).

==Background==

==Background==

President Aylwin did not feel comfortable with this situation and told the Commander-in-Chief of the Army that his government did not think it was good for the country or for the Army that he would continue as Commander-in-Chief, but that he recognized and respected his right to remain in office.

President Aylwin did not feel comfortable with this situation and told the Commander-in-Chief of the Army that his government did not think it was good for the country or for the Army that he would continue as Commander-in-Chief, but that he recognized and respected his right to remain in office.

At the end of his term, former President Aylwin, in an interview with the newspaper Le Monde, reproduced by the Santiago newspaper El Mercurio on April 30, 1994, praised the figure of Augusto Pinochet as a sort of guarantor of the transition: "If Pinochet had not been there during the transition, we would have had in Chile attempts of insurrection carried out by subordinates, "painted faces" as was the case in Argentina".

At the end of his term, former President Aylwin, in an interview with the newspaper Le Monde, reproduced by the Santiago newspaper El Mercurio on April 30, 1994, praised the figure of Augusto Pinochet as a sort of guarantor of the period: "If Pinochet had not been there during the transition, we would have had in Chile attempts of insurrection carried out by subordinates, "painted faces" as was the case in Argentina".

Later, in Japan, he declared that "during my government, General Pinochet fulfilled the task of Commander-in-Chief of the Army, subordinate to the President and respectful of the constitutional order".<ref>La Época, July 9, 1994</ref><ref name=GobMilitar/>

Later, in Japan, he declared that "during my government, General Pinochet fulfilled the task of Commander-in-Chief of the Army, subordinate to the President and respectful of the constitutional order".<ref>La Época, July 9, 1994</ref><ref name=GobMilitar/>

Aylwin later said refering to Pinochet: "He did not believe me that we do not dictate the headlines of the newspaper (...) [Pinochet was seeking] to put pressure in relation to the investigation of human rights violations".

Aylwin later said refering to Pinochet: "He did not believe me that we do not dictate the headlines of the newspaper (...) [Pinochet was seeking] to put pressure in relation to the investigation of human rights violations".

This was the most complicated moment that the administration of Aylwin had to go through and the weakest point of the transition government. When the events occurred, the President was in [[Denmark]] on his way to [[Moscow]]. For this reason, the Minister of the Interior, Enrique Krauss, had to face the situation as Vice President.

This was the most complicated moment that the administration of Aylwin had to go through and the weakest point of the Army-government relations after the Military Government. When the events occurred, the President was in [[Denmark]] on his way to [[Moscow]]. For this reason, the Minister of the Interior, Enrique Krauss, had to face the situation as Vice President.

"In spite of all that tension, trust was gradually rebuilt, and with the passing of time the institutions assumed the role that corresponded to them in accordance with the institutional framework", he said later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/noticia/el-boinazo-el-momento-mas-tenso-del-gobierno-de-patricio-aylwin/|title="El boinazo": el momento más tenso del gobierno de Patricio Aylwin|date=April 18, 2016|publisher=La Tercera|language=es}}</ref>

"In spite of all that tension, trust was gradually rebuilt, and with the passing of time the institutions assumed the role that corresponded to them in accordance with the institutional framework", he said later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latercera.com/noticia/el-boinazo-el-momento-mas-tenso-del-gobierno-de-patricio-aylwin/|title="El boinazo": el momento más tenso del gobierno de Patricio Aylwin|date=April 18, 2016|publisher=La Tercera|language=es}}</ref>

In 2001 he was appointed by President [[Ricardo Lagos]] to head the "Historical Truth and New Deal with Indigenous Peoples" Commission. In July of that year, he temporarily assumed the presidency of the Christian Democrats. In January 2002, he announced his farewell to public activity, however, he always attended the acts and events to which he was invited, as long as his health allowed him to do so.

In 2001 he was appointed by President [[Ricardo Lagos]] to head the "Historical Truth and New Deal with Indigenous Peoples" Commission. In July of that year, he temporarily assumed the presidency of the Christian Democrats. In January 2002, he announced his farewell to public activity, however, he always attended the acts and events to which he was invited, as long as his health allowed him to do so.

He was recognized and named doctor honoris causa by national and international universities, such as the University of [[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]], Georgetown, Notre Dame and La Sorbonne. He was also distinguished with the J. William Fulbright Award for International Understanding for his role in transition to democracy.

He was recognized and named doctor honoris causa by national and international universities, such as the University of [[Concepción, Chile|Concepción]], Georgetown, Notre Dame and La Sorbonne. He was also distinguished with the J. William Fulbright Award for International Understanding for his role in Chilean Politics.

The last years of Patricio Aylwin's life were spent peacefully with his family. It was common to see him walking around his neighborhood, attending mass and spending time with his friends. He passed away on April 19, 2016 and was bid farewell by citizens and the political world with a state funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fundacionaylwin.cl/actividades-como-ex-presidente-de-la-republica/|title=ACTIVIDADES COMO EX PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA|language=es|publisher=Patricio Aylwin Foundation}}</ref><ref name=Centenario/>

The last years of Patricio Aylwin's life were spent peacefully with his family. It was common to see him walking around his neighborhood, attending mass and spending time with his friends. He passed away on April 19, 2016 and was bid farewell by citizens and the political world with a state funeral.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fundacionaylwin.cl/actividades-como-ex-presidente-de-la-republica/|title=ACTIVIDADES COMO EX PRESIDENTE DE LA REPÚBLICA|language=es|publisher=Patricio Aylwin Foundation}}</ref><ref name=Centenario/>