Eduardo Chibás

Eduardo Chibás (1907-1951) was a Cuban politician who used radio to broadcast his political views to the public. He primarily denounced corruption rampant during the Batista era.

Chibás is considered to have had influence on Fidel Castro's views but his name is not mentioned in today's Cuba because he was avowedly anti-communist. He committed suicide in August of 1951, during a radio broadcast (though he was not on the air). His funeral was attended by thousands and it has been speculated that he might have been a contender for the 1952 presidential elections. Batista took the government by force on March 10, 1952.

In 1947 he formed the Ortodoxos party which had the goal of exposing government corruption and bringing about revolutionary change through constitutional means. Castro also joined as he considered Chibás as his mentor. Chibás lost the 1948 election for president. He was running for president again in 1951 when he shot himself as described above.