The 1921 Conventions
The 1921 primary season was dominated by the drama of the possibility of a Liberal-Republicano-Nacional coalition to combat the growing power of left-wing factions in the Chilean political sphere. The unopposed FNT primary ended uneventfully, with the expected nomination of the incumbent President David Bevan. The Comunista split within the politburo quickly resolved itself as the Comunista's key members coalesced around Fuentes, who went on to soundly defeat Kvaratskhelia in the first ballot at their own convention. News of greater than expected turnout for Fuentes and the spectre of a possible Comunista victory in the coming election shocked the Liberales and Republicano Nacionales, and compelled them to start investigating options that neither would have considered before.The Liberales quickly moved to nominate Carlos Andonie III over Francisco De Santa Rosa in a brief floor fight, then turned attention to the idea of a coalition. The first proposition for a FNT/Liberal coalition appealed to Andonie's supporters, who reasoned that they could either secure a broader base for Andonie (who was well-known to lack supporters among the working man) or at least ensure a more moderate leftist government. However, Liberal overtures to the FNT met with failure, as the socialist chairman informed voters that President Bevan had decided to run solely on the socialist ticket. The announcement also shot down a politburo proposal for a leftist alliance, much to the disappointment of the Comunistas.
The Republicano Nacionales, meanwhile, were suffering from their perhaps ill-advised merger. Party patriarch Rivera, who had been one of the strongest supporters of the Republicanos, decried the marriage of the parties as a fascist grab for power and joined the FNT. Many other Republicano leaders also deserted the joint party, leaving the Republicano Nacionales heavily biased towards the extreme wings. The reactionaries and arch-conservatives who remained feared a complete fascist takeover of the joint party and began to call for a liberal coalition. The fascists, alarmed by news of a resurgent communist party, hastily agreed to the proposition.
The Liberales were initially split on the question of coalition with the Republicano Nacionales. After more than a dozen votes, the party remained unable to decide one way or another on the issue, particularly as it remained unclear which of the two parties would win the ensuing floor fight. Eventually, the Liberales decided in favor of coalition by just a single vote. The vicious nomination battle that ensued pitted Liberal frontrunner Carlos Andonie III against Tottenheim. The two candidates remained roughly even across more than thirty ballots.
Eventually, the polarized electorate swung slightly in favor of Fuentes, as supporters of the (essentially eliminated) Montenegro abandoned their old candidate. The advantage was just enough to give Tottenheim the lead in the ballot and make him the joint nominee, much to the chagrin of Carlos Andonie.
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