Latin America went through years of great political agitation between the early sixties and the late eighties. Those times were hard on democracy. Leftist movements openly opposed not only the governments but also the constitutional institutions of the time. The State –and the law, which sustained it- were seen as the source of all social problems. Faced with such criticisms, traditional parties and their spokesmen entered a period of confusion and political indecision. They wanted to establish strategic alliances with spokesmen of the opposition. However, traditional parties were reluctant to the revolutionary measures desired by the latter; they were only willing to accept reforms to the existent situation.