General Pinochet
General Augusto Pinochet (Ugarte) (1915â2006) was a general and President of Chile who overthrew the communist government of President Salvador Allende on Sept. 11, 1973. General Pinochet then headed a military government for 16 years (1974-1990) as he fought and defeated communist opponents in Chile.
General Pinochet instituted free market reforms in Chile in the 1970s that resulted in lower inflation and an economic boom from 1976 to 1979. He held a plebiscite on his rule and 75% of the people affirmed their support for him.
A new constitution was adopted in Chile in 1981, which authorized General Pinochet to serve as president for another eight-year term, to be followed by a plebiscite on his presidency.
As promised, President Pinochet held another plebiscite in October 1988 on the issue of whether he should continue as president. He was defeated by a vote of 55-43%, and subsequent free elections were won by the Christian Democrat Patricio Aylwin, who was installed as president on March 11, 1990.