1978 Bolivian general election

General elections were held in Bolivia on 9 July 1978.[1] The elections were the first held since 1966, with several military coups taking place during the late 1960s and early 1970s.[1] Although Juan Pereda of the Nationalist Union of the People won the presidential elections, more votes were cast than there were registered voters.[2] After examining a number of allegations of fraud and other irregularities, the Electoral Court decided to annul the results on 20 July.[3] The following day, Pereda was installed as President following a military coup. Pereda himself was overthrown by yet another military coup in November, which saw General David Padilla assume the presidency.[4] Fresh elections were held the following year, with Padilla transferring power to his democratically elected successor, Wálter Guevara.

Campaign

Several alliances were formed for the elections:[5]

Alliance Parties
Democratic Alliance of National RevolutionAuthentic Revolutionary Party
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Democratic and Popular UnionCommunist Party
Leftwing Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Movement of the National Left
Alliance of the National Left
Offensive of the Democratic Left
Popular Movement for National Liberation
Revolutionary Left Movement
Socialist Party–Aponte
Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
Nationalist Union of the PeopleBarrientista National Union
Bolivian Socialist Falange
Committee of National Unity
Revolutionary Left Party

Juan Pereda was supported in his presidential bid by both the Nationalist Union of the People and the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement of the People, whilst René Bernal Escalante was the candidate of both the PDCPRB alliance and the Eastern Rural Party.[6]

Results

Party Presidential candidate Votes % Seats
Chamber Senate
Nationalist Union of the PeopleJuan Pereda986,14050.9
Democratic and Popular UnionHernán Siles Zuazo484,38325.0
Democratic Alliance of National RevolutionVíctor Paz Estenssoro213,62211.0
PDCPRBRené Bernal Escalante167,1318.6
Nationalist Revolutionary Movement of the PeopleJuan Pereda40,9052.1
Revolutionary Left FrontCasiano Amurrio23,4591.2
Indian Movement Túpac KatariLuciano Tapia Quisbert12,2070.6
Socialist PartyMarcelo Quiroga Santa Cruz8,3230.4
Eastern Rural PartyRené Bernal Escalante1,1710.1
Invalid/blank votes53,330
Total1,971,968100
Registered voters/turnout1,921,556102.6
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p133 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
  2. Nohlen, p143
  3. Waltraud Q Morales (2003) A brief history of Bolivia New York: Facts On File, p195
  4. Nohlen, p157
  5. Nohlen, p139
  6. Nohlen, p150
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