Augusto Pinochet

Augusto Pinochet was a Chilean military leader who came to power in 1973 after a coup that overthrew the democratically elected president, Salvador Allende. His regime was marked by authoritarian rule, with widespread human rights abuses, including torture, forced disappearances, and executions of political opponents. Pinochet ruled until 1990 and implemented neoliberal economic reforms that transformed Chile's economy. While some credit him for economic growth, his legacy remains controversial due to the violence and repression associated with his government. Pinochet died in 2006, leaving a complex and contested historical legacy in Chile and beyond.