National Front Government

The National Front Government was a coalition between the Conservative and Liberal parties, added to the constitution as a result of a national referendum in 1957. As subsequently revised, the constitution provided for the alternation of Liberals and Conservatives in the presidency for four consecutive presidential terms (1958-1974), the equal division of ministerial positions and public administration and the equal division of all legislative bodies. The successful establishment of the National Front Government was a direct response to the military occupation of the halls of power and the vehicle by which the governing elite and their supporters from both parties, could once again take hold of the reigns of state power.

In July of that year the Declaration of Benidorm was signed by former Conservative president Gomez and Lleras Camargo of the Liberal party. This document laid the foundation for the future institutionalisation of a coalition government. This would in effect prevent a recurrence of the military takeover of the state and keep political power firmly within the grasp of the governing elite, be they Liberal or Conservative.

Though the National Front was born out of crisis, its purpose was neither to confront directly the socio-economic aspects of the breakdown and of the violence, nor to seek to deepen political incorporation. Rather, the party leaders and their socio-economic allies saw the National Front at least in part, as a restoration of their rule in a more secure “civilized” fashion, a rule that had been challenged due to their previous intransigence by la violencia and then by Rojas Pinilla’a rule.