Народное единство
During the presidency of Salvador Allende (1970–1973) he was also the President of the Independent Popular Action ("Acción Popular Independiente", API) a party that he created in 1968 and was part of the Unidad Popular coalition. After the military coup that took power in 1973, Rafael Tarud lived in exile in Switzerland and Spain until he was permitted to return to Chile in 1983.