1932 Chilean general election

General elections were held in Chile on 30 October 1932.[1] Arturo Alessandri of the Liberal Party was elected president, whilst the Conservative Party and Radical Party emerged as the largest parties in the Chamber of Deputies.

1932 Chilean general election

30 October 1932
 
Nominee Arturo Alessandri Marmaduke Grove
Party Liberal New Public Action
Popular vote 187,914 60,856
Percentage 55.1% 17.6%

 
Nominee Héctor Rodríguez Enrique Zañartu Prieto
Party Conservative United Liberal
Popular vote 47,207 42,885
Percentage 13.7% 12.4%

President before election

Abraham Oyanedel
Independent

President

Arturo Alessandri
Liberal

Background

The election took place roughly a year after the previous election, but political and economic instability caused by the Great Depression which hit a low in mid-1932, only made the situation worse. President Montero had to resign shortly after a mutiny led by Marmaduque Grove, who headed the Socialist Republic of Chile until being overthrown by former ally Carlos Dávila who would also be overthrown, this time by Bartolome Blanche. After his downfall, Abraham Oyanedel became head of state. The return of Alessandri became so highly awaited that he won the election in a landslide ending a turbulent and bitter year for the country, being considered today as the worst one in Chilean history.

Electoral system

The presidential election was held using the absolute majority system, under which a candidate had to receive over 50% of the popular vote to be elected. If no candidate received over 50% of the vote, both houses of the National Congress would come together to vote on the two candidates that received the most votes.[2]

Results

President

Candidate Party Votes %
Arturo AlessandriLiberal Party189,91455.1
Marmaduke GroveSocialist60,85617.6
Héctor Rodríguez de la CottaConservative Party47,20713.7
Enrique Zañartu PrietoUnited Liberal Party42,88512.4
Elías LafferteCommunist Party4,1281.2
Invalid/blank votes902
Total345,892100
Registered voters/turnout464,87974.4
Source: Nohlen

Senate

Party Votes % Seats
Radical Party13
Conservative Party10
Liberal Party5
Radical Socialist Party5
Democratic Party4
Democrat Party3
New Napista Action2
Doctrinal Liberal Party1
United Liberal Party1
Republican Social Party1
Total45
Source: Nohlen

Chamber of Deputies

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Radical Party59,41318.134–5
Conservative Party55,26016.834+6
Liberal Party32,6459.918–16
Democratic Party25,2217.713New
Democrat Party19,8196.07–15
Unified Liberal Party18,8855.86New
Socialist parties[a]18,6425.75New
Radical Socialist Party18,1745.58New
Social Republican Party7,0092.14New
Agrarian Party6,5801.04New
Doctrinal Liberal Party5,6431.72New
Communist Party3,3501.01New
Social Democracy Party3,0290.91New
Liberal Democratic Party1,6860.51New
Other parties22,2656.80
Independents33,11610.14+4
Invalid/blank votes
Total328,207100142+10
Registered voters/turnout429,772
Source: Nohlen

a The Socialist parties included New Public Action (9,790 votes) and Chilean Socialists (5,352 votes).[3]

Aftermath

Following the elections, three of the independent candidates elected to the Chamber of Deputies joined the Communist Party.[4]

References

  1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p262 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. Nohlen, p259
  3. Nohlen, p270
  4. Nohlen, p280
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