1978 Bolivian general election explained

Country:Bolivia
Flag Year:state
Previous Election:1966 Bolivian general election
Previous Year:1966
Election Date:9 July 1978
Next Election:1979 Bolivian general election
Next Year:1979
Module:
Embed:yes
Election Name:Presidential election
Type:presidential
Turnout:102.62%
Nominee1:Juan Pereda
Party1:UNP
MNRP
Running Mate1:
Jaime Arellano
Popular Vote1:1,027,045
Percentage1:53.01%
Colour1:008000
Nominee2:Hernán Siles Zuazo
Party2:FUDP
Running Mate2:Edil Sandóval Morón
Popular Vote2:484,383
Percentage2:25.01%
Colour2:FFA500
Image4:Víctor Paz Estenssoro (1964) - CROPPED.jpg
Nominee4:Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Party4:ADRN
Running Mate4:Wálter Guevara
Popular Vote4:213,622
Percentage4:11.03%
Colour4:F19CBB
Party5:PDCPRB
PRO
Running Mate5:Remo Di Natale
Popular Vote5:168,302
Percentage5:8.69%
Colour5:006167
President
Before Election:Hugo Banzer
After Election:Election results annulled

General elections were held in Bolivia on 9 July 1978. The elections were the first held since 1966, with several military coups taking place during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although Juan Pereda of the Nationalist Union of the People won the presidential elections according to official statements, more votes were cast than there were registered voters. After examining a number of allegations of fraud and other irregularities, the National Electoral Court decided to annul the results on 19 July.[1] [2] 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. 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:

AllianceParties
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.

Results

The official results were inconsistent; the reported total number of votes cast was 1,971,968, around 50,000 more than the number of registered voters (1,921,556), giving a turnout of 102.6%. However, the total of votes cast for each party and invalid votes was 1,990,671, nearly 20,000 higher than the reported total and representing a turnout of 103.6%.

Notes and References

  1. News: Bolivia's Presidential Election Annulled— Court Responds to Fraud Charges, Orders New Vote . AP . . July 20, 1978 . I-4 . LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP)— The National Election Court annulled Bolvia's July 9 presidential election Wednesday night and called for another vote within 180 days..
  2. Book: Morales, Waltraud Q . A Brief History of Bolivia . 2003 . Facts On File . New York . 195.