National Party (Chile, 1857)

The National Party (Partido Nacional) or Montt-Varist (Monttvarista) was a Chilean political party formed in 1857 as a split from the Conservatives by the supporters of President Manuel Montt and Interior Minister Antonio Varas. The National Party had a liberal-conservative ideology and was primarily supported by middle-high businessmen, bankers and journalists. The Welsh-born Edwards family was a bigger financer of the party, along with the aristocratic Balmaceda, who was linked to the Liberal Party. The party never was more than an influential third party, and since the late 1910s its influences declined considerably, stopping from participating to national elections after 1924, finally merging into the United Liberal Party in 1933. The monttvarista National Party is not to be confused with the National Party formed in 1966.