APRA or the Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana, reformist political party in Peru, also called the Partido Aprista. Founded (1924) by Victor Raúl Haya de la Torre while in exile, the party's activities in Perú were led by José Carlos Mariátegui until 1927, when he left to found the Socialist party. Haya de la Torre returned to Peru in 1931 and continued his work with the Apristas. The party advocated social reform, the emancipation of indigenous peoples, improvement of agrarian conditions, and the socialization of some industries. Originally committed to revolutionary change, the party gradually became less radical. Implicated in acts of political terror, the Apristas were outlawed from 1931 to 1945. While underground, the Apristas engaged in continual gun battles with the military, thus creating an enduring enmity between the two groups. In 1945 the party was legalized, and joined in a coalition government under José Luis Bustamente. In 1948, an abortive revolt of dissident Apristas in the port city of Callao brought the country to the verge of civil war, sparking a coup by General Manuel Odría ; APRA was again outlawed. The party was legalized (1956) when Manuel Prado, a conservative, was elected president with its support. In the 1962 presidential election, Haya de la Torre won a slight plurality. The military, ever distrustful of the party, immediately intervened to prevent Haya from taking office. They withdrew...
APRA or the Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana, reformist political party in Peru, also called the Partido Aprista. Founded (1924) by Victor Raúl Haya de la Torre while in exile, the party's activities in Perú were led by José Carlos Mariátegui until 1927, when he left to found the Socialist party. Haya de la Torre returned to Peru in 1931 and continued his work with the Apristas. The party advocated social reform, the emancipation of indigenous peoples, improvement of agrarian conditions, and the socialization of some industries. Originally committed to revolutionary change, the party gradually became less radical. Implicated in acts of political terror, the Apristas were outlawed from 1931 to 1945. While underground, the Apristas engaged in continual gun battles with the military, thus creating an enduring enmity between the two groups. In 1945 the party was legalized, and joined in a coalition government under José Luis Bustamente. In 1948, an abortive revolt of dissident Apristas in the port city of Callao brought the country to the verge of civil war, sparking a coup by General Manuel Odría ; APRA was again outlawed. The party was legalized (1956) when Manuel Prado, a conservative, was elected president with its support. In the 1962 presidential election, Haya de la Torre won a slight plurality. The military, ever distrustful of the party, immediately intervened to prevent Haya from taking office. They withdrew...
