1978 Dominican Republic general election

General elections were held in the Dominican Republic on 16 May 1978.[1] Following diplomatic pressure from American President Jimmy Carter, the elections were free and competitive and contested by all political parties, unlike the previous elections in the 1970s.[2] Antonio Guzmán Fernández won the presidential election, whilst his Dominican Revolutionary Party (which had not contested the 1970 and 1974 elections) won the Congressional elections. Voter turnout was 75.8%.[3]

1978 Dominican Republic presidential election

16 May 1978 (1978-05-16)
 
Nominee Antonio Guzmán Joaquín Balaguer
Party PRD PR
Popular vote 866,912 711,878
Percentage 52.4% 43.0%

President before election

Joaquín Balaguer
PR

Elected President

Antonio Guzmán
PRD

When counting showed an unmistakable trend toward Guzmán, the Army attempted a coup and interrupted the vote count, only to back down amid protests at home and strong pressure from abroad. The final count showed Balaguer had suffered the first defeat of his career.[2][4][5] Although Guzmán was allowed to assume the presidency, the Central Elections Authority redistributed the uncast votes equally between the PRD and the Reformist Party, diminishing the PRD's majority in Congress.[2]

Guzmán's swearing-in on 16 August marked the first time in the country's history that a sitting government had peacefully surrendered power to an elected member of the opposition.

Results

President

Candidate Party Votes %
Antonio Guzmán FernándezDominican Revolutionary Party866,91252.4
Joaquín BalaguerReformist Party711,87843.0
Francisco LoraMovement of Democratic Integration27,0951.6
Juan BoschDominican Liberation Party18,3751.1
Narciso Isa CondeDominican Communist Party9,8280.6
Alfonso LockwardSocial Christian Revolutionary Party7,9810.5
Luis Julián PérezNational Salvation Movement7,7820.5
Luis Homero Lajara BurgosPopular Democratic Party5,9560.4
Invalid/blank votes85,530
Total1,741,337100
Source: Nohlen
Results of the Dominican Republic presidential election, May 16th, 1978, by province (candidate in first position)

Congress

Party Votes % House Senate
Seats +/– Seats +/–
Dominican Revolutionary Party838,97350.148New16New
Reformist Party692,14642.143–3211–12
Dominican Liberation Party18,5651.10New0New
Movement of Democratic Integration13,3170.80New0New
National Civic Union13,3160.80New0New
Social Democratic Alliance11,0560.70New0New
Dominican Communist Party10,7510.70New0New
Movement of National Reconciliation7,7430.50New0New
National Salvation Movement7,7270.50New0New
Democratic Quisqueyano Party5,9840.40New0New
Popular Democratic Party5,6670.30–300
Movimento Popular Justicialista9,2260.60New0New
Movimento Revolucionario del Pueblo0New0New
Movimento Municipal del Pueblo0–100
Movimento Restaurador Santuagúes0New0New
Movimento Unión Provincial Independiente0New0New
Invalid/blank votes85,530
Total1,731,095100910270
Source: Nohlen

References

  1. Nohlen, D (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p247 ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
  2. Nohlen, p241
  3. Nohlen, p248
  4. Dominican Republic Inter-Parliamentary Union
  5. Buckman, Robert T. (2007). The World Today Series: Latin America 2007. Harpers Ferry, West Virginia: Stryker-Post Publications. ISBN 978-1-887985-84-0.
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