1932 Chilean general election

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1932 Chilean general election
Flag of Chile.svg
  1931 30 October 1932 1938  
  Arturo Alessandri P.jpg Marmaduque Grove.jpg
Nominee Arturo Alessandri Marmaduke Grove
Party Liberal New Public Action
Popular vote187,91460,856
Percentage55.05%17.64%

  HectorRodriguezDLS.JPG EnriqueZanartuPrieto.jpg
NomineeHéctor RodríguezEnrique Zañartu Prieto
Party Conservative United Liberal
Popular vote47,20742,885
Percentage13.68%12.43%

President before election

Abraham Oyanedel
Independent

President

Arturo Alessandri
Liberal

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.

Contents

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

CandidatePartyVotes%
Arturo Alessandri Liberal Party 189,91455.05
Marmaduke Grove New Public Action 60,85617.64
Héctor Rodríguez de la Cotta Conservative Party 47,20713.68
Enrique Zañartu Prieto United Liberal Party 42,88512.43
Elías Lafertte Communist Party 4,1281.20
Total344,990100.00
Valid votes344,99099.74
Invalid/blank votes9020.26
Total votes345,892100.00
Registered voters/turnout464,87974.40
Source: Nohlen

Senate

PartySeats
Radical Party 13
Conservative Party 10
Liberal Party 5
Socialist Radical Party 5
Democratic Party 4
Democrat Party 3
New Public Action 2
Independent Liberal Party 1
United Liberal Party 1
Republican Social Party 1
Total45
Source: Nohlen

Chamber of Deputies

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Radical Party 59,41318.1034–5
Conservative Party 55,26016.8434+6
Liberal Party 32,6459.9518–16
Democratic Party 25,2217.6813New
Democrat Party 19,8196.047–15
United Liberal Party 18,8855.756New
Socialist parties [lower-alpha 1] 18,6425.685New
Socialist Radical Party 18,1745.548New
Republican Social Party 7,0092.144New
Agrarian Party 6,5802.004New
Independent Liberal Party 5,6431.722New
Communist Party 3,3501.021New
Social Democracy Party 3,0290.921New
Liberal Democratic Party 1,6860.511New
Other parties19,7356.010
Independents33,11610.094+4
Total328,207100.00142+10
Registered voters/turnout429,772
Source: Nohlen
  1. Including 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]

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References

  1. Dieter Nohlen (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