Luis Corvalán facts for kids
Luis Nicolás Corvalán Lepe (born September 14, 1916, in Puerto Montt, Chile – died July 21, 2010) was an important Chilean politician. He was the leader, or general secretary, of the Communist Party of Chile (PCCh) for many years.
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Early Life and Political Journey
Luis Corvalán joined the Communist Party of Chile when he was just fifteen years old in 1932. This was shortly after a leader named Carlos Ibáñez del Campo was no longer in power. Corvalán was trained to be a teacher.
After 1952, he was chosen to be a member of the Communist Party's main committee. By 1958, he became the party's top leader, the secretary-general. It's important to know that the Communist Party was not allowed to operate in Chile from 1948 until 1958.
Imprisonment and Release
On September 11, 1973, a military group led by General Augusto Pinochet took control of Chile. This event is known as a military coup. Many people were arrested, and Luis Corvalán was one of them. He became a very well-known political prisoner in Chile. A political prisoner is someone held by the government because of their political ideas or actions.
While he was in prison, Luis Corvalán received the Lenin Peace Prize. This award recognized his efforts for peace. The Soviet Union (a country that no longer exists) started a worldwide effort to get him released. On December 18, 1976, Corvalán was set free in exchange for another important political prisoner, Vladimir Bukovsky, who was held in the Soviet Union. After his release, Corvalán was given safety in the Soviet Union. This meant he could live there and be protected.
Leading the Party and Return to Chile
Luis Corvalán led the Communist Party of Chile for more than thirty years. He continued to lead even when he was living outside of Chile. This period included all the years that General Pinochet's military government was in power.
In 1990, after the end of Pinochet's rule, Corvalán was able to return to Chile.
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